The first-ever child-friendly eye care unit has been formally inaugurated at Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib Eye Hospital & Training Institute (SFMEHTI) in Gopalganj on Tuesday. The unit is expected to render eye care services for the children living in this area.
Orbis International Bangladesh has provided technical support to set up the unit with the financial support from Donner Canadian Foundation, said a press release. Prof Saifuddin Ahmed, Director of SFMEHTI, Dr Munir Ahmed, Country Director and Mohammed Alauddin, Director of Programs of Orbis International Bangladesh, officials from SFMEHTI and partner eye hospitals were present at the ceremony virtually organised by SFMEHTI and Orbis.
A virtual tour of the child-friendly eye care unit was arranged after that showed the eye screening procedures, including play zone in the OPD, counselling room, etc.
Guests described the launching of the child-friendly OPD as a milestone for SFMEHTI as well as for Orbis in Bangladesh. As there were no such treatment services for the children of this area, this unit can now contribute to reduce and prevent childhood blindness. Dr Munir Ahmed, Country Director of Orbis International Bangladesh said the unit is the 14th such centre set up by Orbis in Bangladesh, where according to the World Health Organization (1 for every 10 million population), the current need is 16.
The centres are equipped with adequate infrastructure and skilled team have been established giving an access to the children for eye care service. Orbis has also created a regional example by creating child-friendly eye care referral network.
Orbis has provided financial and technical support to establish this unit, which includes training to develop human resource, equipment and renovation, outreach programmes, spectacles and medicines, community orientation on Paediatric Primary Eye Care and developing IEC/BCC materials for community awareness.
Orbis International, Bangladesh Country Program is working on Childhood Blindness Reduction Program from 2000. Since then, Orbis International Bangladesh established 14 child-friendly eye care units across the country through partners and contributing to prevent avoidable childhood blindness.
