Mumbai Smiles organizes a Diabetic Retinopathy and Eye Screening Camp

On 23rd December 2013, Mumbai Smiles in association with Aditya Jyot Foundation organized a one day Eye screening camp for the members of underprivileged community at Balwadi no 15,Phule Nagar Slum, Powai, one of Mumbai Smiles’ strategic work areas, with additional focus on screening patients with Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy

Blindness is one of the most severe, but preventable and treatable, issues faced by the underprivileged people of India today. Several factors such as overcrowding and explosive population growth coupled with the miniscule and degraded health infrastructure, staff inadequacy limit government’s ability to provide health care services. The health awareness team of Mumbai Smiles aims to preserve and promote good health, prevent diseases and disabilities and facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of illnesses.

The Balwadi Team regularly visits the slum of Phule Nagar, Powai since 3 Balwadis for underprivileged children in the age group 1-6 operate in this area. The team with the help of Balwadi teachers and local leaders identified the need for conducting an Eye Screening Camp in the aforesaid area. Further, after a one to one discussion with Dr. Radhika from Aditya Jyot Foundation and Dr. Nirmal Ahuja from Mumbai Smiles, it was decided to club the Eye screening camp with a Diabetic Check up and a Diabetic Retinopathy screening

The banners were put up a week prior to the camp to enable maximum registration and consequently reach more number of beneficiaries. About 67 participants attended the camp and were thoroughly screened for eye ailments. They were also screened for Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy. Of those screened, 20 were advised for further Eye checkup. The common eye complaints were Refractive errors, Cataract, Diabetic Retinopathy, Stye and conjunctivitis. All the follow up cases for eye care shall be referred to Aditya Jyot Foundation for further investigations in the month of Jan-Feb 2014 and will be accordingly considered for further treatment. The follow up investigations and treatment plan of above mentioned patients will be conducted in the month of Jan-Feb 2014.Additionally, 4 such Diabetic Retinopathy and Eye Screening Camps will be conducted in 4 other project areas of Mumbai Smiles in the month of Jan-Feb 2014