Premature babies to get free eye treatment at DMCH

Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) will provide eye treatment for premature and low birth-weight babies of poor families at free of cost to save them from blindness.
The treatment will be given at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the hospital with the support of Ispahani Islamia Eye Institute and Hospital (IIEI&H), according to a news agency.
The DMCH and IIEI&H signed a Voluntary Free Service agreement at the DMCH conference room in this regard Tuesday.
Director of IIEI&H Dr Alamgir Hossain and Director of DMCH Brig Gen Md Mustafizur Rahman signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides.
Orbis International, an international NGO, will provide technical support for the treatment.
The pre-term and low birth weight babies are usually prone to developing Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). These babies may go blind if timely screening and treatment were not provided between 20-30 days of their birth.
Addressing the agreement signing ceremony, country director of Orbis International Dr Munir Ahmed said considering this reality, Orbis International has taken the initiative for the first time in the country to provide ROP services to prevent blindness and save sights of the unfortunate babies.
He also mentioned that the initiative will be expanded to other NICUs in government and selected private hospitals in phases.
Adviser of IIE&IH Zahida Ispahani said they are committed to serve babies of the poor families at free of cost who visit NICU at DMCH for ROP service.
Director of DMCH Brig Gen Md Mustafizur Rahman thanked Orbis International and IIEI&H for their noble initiative for starting screening and treatment services on ROP at the DMCH.