Community Eye Centre of SBMCH: Taking eye care to those in the remote south

Monowara Begum, 55, a resident of Hajariganj village under Bhola's Char Fasson upazila, has long been suffering from eye complications and went to the upazila health complex.
She said she received a 30-minute long consultation via teleconference at the health complex.
"The doctors at the health complex listened to me as I told them the symptoms, then consulted with ophthalmologists of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal through the computer, and prescribed me medicine. It went very well, and was really convenient as I did not need to travel to Barishal," she said.
Like her, many other people across Bhola district are being benefitted by the SBMCH's Eye Care Centre's outreach initiative for the remote areas in the southern districts.
"At least 20-30 patients come every day, most of them suffering from cataracts and different complications. Some have poor vision. The patients requiring cataract surgery, and other severe complications are referred to SBMCH, while the rest receive treatment without having to travel to Barishal," said Sonia Akhter, a senior nurse of the health complex.
"Between January and October this year, 355 patients were referred from Char Fasson Upazila Health Complex to Barishal," she added.
Suman Talukder, an IT staff of the Community Eye Centre of SMCH, said the centre was launched in 2022 at the hospital under the National Eye Care.
"Every month, around 100-120 patients from 20 upazilas of Barishal division come to SBMCH for treatment, with 90 percent of them for cataract surgery. At least 10 to 25 operations are performed here every week. Also, some 5,000-6,000 patients get treatment through telemedicine services at upazila level through the centre's outreach initiative," he said.
Dr Kawsar of SBMCH's ophthalmology department said, "SBMCH serves as the base of the Eye Care Centre. There are three doctors here, who provide telemedicine services to some 200 to 250 patients daily."
"A cataract surgery costs Tk 7,000-10,000 if done from outside. If it is done with a phaco machine, it costs Tk 20-30 thousand. Under the project, patients can avail the treatment free of cost," he added.
Dr Mohammad Zahirul Islam, associate professor, National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital, said, the National Eye Care project was started in 2018 and later extended for another two years in 2022, with an aim to provide primary eye care to patients with lack of financial resources in remote and isolated areas, where there are usually fewer eye doctors than needed.
Dr Shafiqul Islam, head of the Department of Ophthalmology at SBMCH, said more than 70,000 patients from 20 upazilas of the southern region received medical facilities and medicines every year under this project.
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