Orbis International Bangladesh (OIB) has taken an initiative to launch the treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), an eye disease that effects prematurely-born babies, in the country, said Dr Munir Ahmed, OIB country director.
OIB signed an agreement with Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and Ispahani Islamia Eye Institute and Hospital (IIEIH) in this regard at the DMCH conference room on Tuesday.
The first of its kind in Bangladesh, the treatment will be initially available at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the DMCH with the support of IIEIH.
Pre-term and low birth weight babies are usually prone to ROP. Without timely screening and treatment, those who contract the disease could go blind within 20-30 days of their birth.
Experts say around 37.50 lakh children are born every year in Bangladesh. Of them, around 25,000 children’s weight at birth stand at 1.5 kg or below.
Dr Munir Ahmed also mentioned that the treatment would be made available at other NICUs in government-run and selected private hospitals in phases.
Zahida Ispahani, adviser at IIEIH, said that IIEIH was committed to provide the treatment to the babies from the poor families at free of cost.
Brig Gen Md Mustafizur Rahman, director of the DMCH, thanked Orbit International and IIEIH for this initiative, terming that the agreement historical for the DMCH.
DMCH Principal Professor Dr Md Ismail Khan called upon all to come forward to reduce ROP, hoping that the initiative would contribute in removing childhood blindness.
Professor Dr Maksudul Islam, head of the ophthalmology department at the DMCH, said this kind of public-private partnership would make a difference in reducing childhood blindness in the country.
Among others, Professor Md Abid Hossain Mollah, Professor M Ekhlasur Rahman, Vice-Principal Dr Md Shafiqul Alam Chowdhury and Dr Md Tafazzal Hossain Khan of DMCH, CEO Dr Michael Charles, Director Dr Alamgir Hossain and Dr Nazmun Nahar of IIEIH, and OIB Programme Director Mohammed Alauddin, Regional Programme Manager of Orbit Asia Dr Nurullah and Programme Manager Dr Fayazul Islam were present at the ceremony.
