Govt to set up vision centers in districts

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DHAKA, Jan 19, 2020 (BSS) – Proper eye care would be ensured through establishing ‘Community Vision Centre’ at 64 districts across the country within this year.

The government would set up vision centers, where primary eye care, glasses and medicine, referral and telemedicine services would offered in all the districts of the country to make eye care services available to the grassroots people”, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque said.

He formally launched a report as the chief guest at an event organized at The Westin Dhaka by International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), INGO Forum in Eye Health, and National Eye Care of Bangladesh government.

He also inaugurated a two-day workshop titled ‘World Report on Vision – Developing Bangladesh Action Plan’ at the same event, said a press release.

The minister said, around 4,500 physicians have recently joined government service and another 5,500 doctors will be recruited for facilitating prompt delivery of health services in the country.

The rate of blindness in Bangladesh among the 30 plus age group has declined by 1 percent from 4 percent years ago thanks to different steps of the government, he said.

He laid emphasis on ensuring modern equipment, skilled manpower and awareness among the people about eye health problems to fight vision impairment.

DGHS Director General Prof Abul Kalam Azad presided over the programme while Prime Minister’s former Health Affairs Adviser Prof Syed Modasser Ali, Health Services Division Secretary Asadul Islam, and IAPB Country Chair for Bangladesh and Director General of Medical Education Prof AHM Enayet Hussain also spoke, among others.

The WHO report says population growth and ageing, behavioral and lifestyle changes, and urbanization, will ‘dramatically’ increase the number of people with eye conditions, vision impairment and blindness in the coming decades.