Premature babies to undergo eye check-up

Orders will be issued soon for the eye examination of children before they are released from hospitals

LAHORE:

Eye examination of premature babies needing oxygen support will be declared mandatory in Punjab after introducing standard operating procedures (SOPs) in this regard because of the risk of blindness due to any lapse.

Orders will be issued soon for the eye examination of such children before they are released from hospitals.

Addressing a seminar in connection with the World Sight Day at King Edward Medical University on Wednesday, Caretaker Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr Jamal Nasir said the Fred Hollows Foundation of Australia had offered an aid of Rs600 million to the province for improvement of eyecare facilities and treatment. After signing an MoU, equipment for eye examination and surgery will be provided in the district and tehsil headquarters hospitals.

He said the shortage of ophthalmologists in remote areas would be overcome and eye specialists would be posted at places lacking the facility. Dr Nasir claimed that the rate of blindness in Pakistan had dropped fr two per cent to 0.5%.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2023.