More than 50 percent of the babies born premature run the risk of developing blindness at later stage of life due to Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), experts at a national summit said on Saturday. They stressed on raising awareness among the public and taking integrated approach from the government side since such blindness is preventable through early detection and treatment. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in collaboration with the Interactive Research and Development, Bangladesh (IRD Bangladesh) with funding support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) organised the summit in Dhaka. Around 70 participants, including national and international eye specialists, neonatologist, public health experts, maternal health professionals and experts, policy makers and researchers were present at the summit. They discussed and provided an in-depth understanding of the latest best practices and integrated approach to ROP screening, treatment and prevention.
ROP is a potentially blinding disease caused by abnormal development of retinal blood vessels in premature infants. It remains one of the leading causes of blindness among babies born before their terms. All preterm babies are at high risk of developing ROP, and very low birth weight triggers that risk. More than 50 percent of preterm infants weighing less than 1,250 grams at birth show evidence of ROP and about 10 percent of the infants develop severe ROP.
Approximately 3.75 million infants are born in Bangladesh each year. About 25,000 of these weigh 1,500 grams or less and hence at risk for ROP. In Bangladesh, the reported incidence of ROP based on welldesigned screening programme is not available. Follow up eye examination of preterm infants (born in less than 33 weeks) enrolled in a study reported the incidence as 4.4 percent.
The improvement in Bangladesh’s economy has led to a visible reduction of neonatal deaths and improvement in its neonatal care. As more premature babies now survive, the incidence of ROP may also on the rise. The improvement in neonatal care, which is sometimes suboptimal because of limited facilities and manpower contributes to the current epidemic of ROP in Bangladesh. Associate Professor of eye BSMMU Dr. Nuzhat Choudhury highlighted ROP situation in Bangladesh and importance of “integrated approach to newborn care and inclusion of ROP screening in newborn care package”.
On that Summit, eye specialist Prof. A.H.M Enayet Hussain, Director General for Medical Education, provided an overview of the Summit and thanked USAID for providing support for the ROP Project under Childhood Blindness Program. Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council President Prof. Dr. Mohammod Shahidullah, and Prof. Clare Gilbert, Professor and Researcher of International Eye Care at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK were the key speakers. Dr. Abu Jamil Faisel, Senior Technical Director of IRD Bangladesh, moderated the event. Prof. Gilbert mentioned that ROP is one of the major causes of childhood blindness globally and in Asia including Bangladesh and highlighted importance of timely screening and treatment to prevent avoidable blindness due to ROP.
The effective management for the prevention of avoidable ROP blindness requires a multi-sectoral approach that encompasses relevant policies, timely screening and treatment programs, and awareness among and active involvement of neonatologists, nurses, ophthalmologists, maternal health and public health experts and parents across the cascade of healthcare. The Speakers highlighted the importance of multi-sectoral approach involving wider stakeholders under the stewardship of the government and the need for prioritizing areas for the National ROP programming, guidelines, monitoring indicators and data capturing.
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