NAYANA (which means 'eye') - a venture funded by the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) in Karnataka state (India) is indeed a great boon for the rural people living with diabetes retinopathy.
Three years ago when the van was first introduced in this area retinopathy treatment was only been available at certain urban hospitals. This means travelling 200-300 Km to access such care, resulting in huge barrier for people who live in rural areas and semi-urban areas. However, now Karnataka has achieved impressive results after introducing a unique to bring the treatment out the patients.
Every month the van visits 23 locations across 13 districts catering to the needs of 18.31 million people. These locations consist of 8 Eye Hospitals/Eye Departments Of larger hospitals, 3 Government hospitals and 11 other clinics.
"We have completed 375 field days. We see an average of 33-34 patients per location. This is the only van in India which is providing these kinds of facilities for the prevention and treatment of diabetes retinopathy,' said Dr. Shivaram, a senior ophthalmologist and coordinator of this mobile eye care van, based in Yalundar, Karnataka. He further said, 'After the introduction of this van, 80 per cent of the people living with diabetes in rural areas have started getting treatment of retinopathy.'
People living with diabetes in this area have made a Diabetes Forum. This forum organizes periodical meetings to address the problem of diabetes. Mr. Mahadev Appa, a patient of diabetes retinopathy and retired government employee, said, 'I had been suffering from diabetes for the last 20 years. However, I had no idea about diabetes retinopathy till 2 years back when this van came to my village, B.R. Hills. Then I got myself checked and was diagnosed with diabetes retinopathy. I immediately started taking treatment and today my retinopathy problem is gone." His 24 years old daughter Gayatri feels that her father has got a new lease of life.
