SEVA Sadan Eye Hospital is strengthening its retina screening and treatment system to combat Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in premature babies. The primary objective of this initiative is to ensure timely screening of infants to prevent severe vision loss. The hospital management has decided to enhance its operational capabilities and technical resources to make this service more effective. Retina Specialist Dr Sonal Paliwal stated that in the last five years, 7,200 infants have been screened at the hospital, and 180 have undergone treatment through the laser system. Currently, this service is being conducted in the district hospitals of Bhopal, Sehore, and Vidisha under the supervision of pediatricians. The hospital aims to expand this facility to the district hospitals of Narmadapuram and Raisen in the near future.

 

Additionally, special emphasis has been placed on conducting ROP screening in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) of private nursing homes alongside Government hospitals. To make this treatment system technically competent, Hospital Director Kushal Dharmani has prepared a new action plan. Under this, short-term training sessions for retina screening will be provided to optometrists stationed at Government and private hospitals. Bangalore-based industrialist Manohar Chhatlani, who has been consistently supporting this programme for the last eight years, has come forward to assist in this endeavor. He has assured that senior optometrists of Seva Sadan will be trained by experts from Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore. Furthermore, he has agreed to help replace old retina screening machines with modern equipment and has consented to partial reimbursement of the expenses incurred for the effective implementation of ROP screening. Those present on this occasion included Senior Optometrist Praveen Aiyam from Narayana Hospital, Bangalore; Secretary Hero Gyanchandani; Trustees Mahesh Dayaramani and Suresh Avatramani; social worker K L Lohana; Medical Director Dr Prerana Upadhyay; Retina Specialists Dr Sonal Paliwal and Dr Sakshi Ramnani; Hospital Director Kushal Dharmani; and Administrator Anusha Tiwari.