The ‘Creation of Diabetic Retinopathy Referral Network’ is backed by World Diabetes Foundation with support from local health and eye care partners.
The project was officially opened on February 11th with CEO Bob Ranck invited to as guest of honor.
Orbis CEO unveils new program in Bangladesh
A staggering one-third of 10 million diabetics in Bangladesh risk going blind because so many people aren’t even aware they have the disease. A new project in the Gopalganj district - unveiled by our CEO Bob Ranck - is dedicated to combating an explosion of blindness caused by diabetes.
Local health and eye care partners with CEO Bob Ranck at the project opening
It’s designed to create a scalable integrated model to improve eye care services for diabetic patients focusing on diabetic retinopathy in five rural districts.
During the inauguration ceremony local health experts provided an insight into the country’s diabetes crisis.
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) affects an estimated one-third of people with diabetes and is the leading cause of blindness and vision loss in adults between 35-50.
In fact every person living with diabetes is at risk of developing DR and may potentially go blind over time as excessive blood sugar levels can cause irreversible damage to vessels in the retina
The number of Diabetic Eye Diseases and associated blindness and death is increasing every year because patients don’t know they have the disease and even when they do those impacted lack access to quality eye care to fight it.
Speaking at the event, President & CEO Bob Ranck highlighted Orbis’s work in restoring vision worldwide. He also said DR is now one of the key causes for childhood blindness and 54 of Bangladesh Diabetic Samity (BADAS) hospitals eye care program needs to be extended throughout the country so that every diabetes patient can get eye treatment under one umbrella.
Project stakeholders observe a diabetic retinopathy screening
What the Project Hopes to Achieve
During the next three years alongside the support of our amazing local partners, the ‘Creation of Diabetic Retinopathy Referral Network’ initiative will:
- Screen 253,000 patients with diabetes including Diabetic Retinopathy in five districts of Bangladesh – Gopalganj, Bogura, Netrokona, Mymensingh and Sherpur.
- Treat 22,000 patients with DR referred from eye hospitals during the project period
- Enable 315 patients from impoverished families to receive financial assistance for treatment to fight the disease through a voucher scheme
Thanks to Our Partners
We would like to thank local healthcare and eye care partners and the Bangladesh government for their support implementing the project.
We look forward to continuing our excellent relationship.
We’d also like to thank the following partners...
- Gopalganj Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib Eye Hospital and Training Institute
- Bangladesh Diabetic Samity (BADAS) Gopalganj
- World Diabetes Foundation
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