Sightsavers Celebrates World Diabetes Day in Bihar by Keeping an ‘Eye on Diabetes’

Diabetes is a ticking bomb which is gradually engulfing a large populace in the country. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that India has 31.7 million diabetic subjects in the country. The focus this year was on promotion of screening. Sightsavers has been working tirelessly for the last five decades to prevent avoidable blindness, restore sight and advocate for social inclusion and equal rights for people with disabilities.

On this occasion, Sightsavers along with government officials was delighted to facilitate Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) screening in the new DR clinic at Gardiner Road Hospital in Patna. Tej Pratap Yadav, Honourable Minister for Health in the Government of Bihar and RK Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Health inaugurated the centre. Also present at the event was Mr Mahesh Kr. Sinha, SPO (NCD).

Known for its expertise in diabetic care, the clinic will be administrated by Novo Nordisk Education Foundation in PPP mode with the Government of Bihar. A multitude of people were screened at the facility and provided expert inputs by the doctors present there. A proposal was also presented to the state government by Sightsavers for integration of DR screening facilities at the hospital.

The esteemed dignitaries including the Health Minister participated in a Diabetes Walk to create awareness among the locals about diabetic retinopathy. An Information, Education & Communications (IEC) van of Sightsavers ensured that the general public had adequate knowledge about the ill effects of diabetes on sight. It was a platform for eye health experts to exhibit their interventions and services, which Sightsavers successfully did by partnering with the government and local health organisations.