Karnataka DPM Workshop on Best Practices for Cataract Management : 20-21 May, 2009

One of the prime areas of concern for Sightsavers has been the provision of quality eye care to meet the needs of the poorest of the poor and those who cannot afford the “expected” high quality – high price service provided by the private practitioners. Quality initiatives that Sightsavers have followed over the years has ensured that the wide range of NGO partners with whom we are in partnership are following the standardization procedures and are also conscious of the cataract protocols in vogue. On the basis of these experiences with the partner hospitals, Sightsavers International has developed Cataract Protocol Manual.

As one of the advocacy and capacity building initiatives of Sightsavers South India Area Office, Workshop on Best Practices for Cataract Management for all the District Programme Managers and District ophthalmic surgeons of the State Health Society, Government of Karnataka has been conducted on 20th and 21st May 2009. District ophthalmic surgeons and DPMs have attended the workshop.

Dr. Halakatti (Joint Director Ophthalmology, Karnataka), Dr. Kaushik Murali (Shankara Eye Hospital, Bangalore) and Dr. Rajesh Kapse (Programme Officer, Sightsavers Inernational) have taken special efforts to organize this workshop

Objectives of the Workshop:

1. Review the situation analysis of the eye care services in Karnataka.

2. To update knowledge of DPMs on the current best practices for cataract surgeries.

3. Discuss a common minimum clinical protocol that needs to be maintained.

4. To prepare an action plan for the implementation of the common minimum protocol
5. To draft an action plan for capacity building initiatives.

Action plan:

1. District level training programme on cataract protocol will be organized for the paramedics with the help of district ophthalmic surgeons
2. Standardize cataract protocol will be developed in pictorial form and will be displayed in district government hospitals.
3. Hospital based training programme will be organized so as to upgrade the knowledge of ophthalmic surgeons.
4. PMOAs will be trained from four regions of Karnataka for the ophthalmic equipment maintenance.

Feedback about the workshop:

1. All the sessions were useful and will be helpful in the surgical practice.
2. The workshop has enhanced their knowledge.
3. Such kind of continuous medical education programmes should be organized frequently.
4. Training on small incision cataract surgery should be conducted.

Submitted By

Rajesh Kapse

SIAO's II Partners Meet : 6th to 8th May, 2009

The Sightsavers International South India Area Office (SIAO) organized its second Partner’s Meet at YMCA International House, Mumbai from 6th to 8th May 2009.

The first day of the meeting was dedicated to the four changed themes of SIAO's SIM card and programme partnership policy. The second day witnessed a discourse on topics ranging from HR Challenges in NGO (Sandeep Kulshehtra), Good Governance at NGOs (Vijan Nandkarni, Credibility Alliance), Role of Resource Mobilization (Katrina Scaife) etc.

Post lunch concurrent sessions were held for CBR and EC partners with following presentations:


CBR Session:

1- Advocacy in Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (Ketan Kothari, SIAO)
2- Helping Communities to take Charge – Micro planning (Dr. Jalidar Adsule, Faculty, Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work)
3- Working with VI and Additional Disabilities (Reena Bhandari, Director, Voice and Vision)


EC Sessions:

1- Hospital Management and Medical Records (Dr Shilpa Tatake, Jupiter Lifeline Hospitals Ltd.)
2 - Breaking the frontiers - Retinoblastoma (Dr Savari Desai, LVPEI- Hyderabad)
3- Diabetic Retinopathy: Sankara Eye Hosp. (Vishwanathan, Pammal)
4- Low Vision: Lotus College of Optometry (Prema Chande, Mumbai)


The third day of the meeting was foccused on accounts personnel with introduction of FAT(Financial Analysis Tool) and its importance. A lot of stress was also given to the main findings of audit process and its compliance.

Pre Launch Meet of Mumbai Eye Care Campaign : 9th May, 2009

The prelaunch meet of the “Mumbai Eye Care Campaign” an initiative by Sightsavers International was held today the 9th of May 2009, at the Dr.Chokshi Auditorium of the Tata Memorial Hospital , Parel (E).

The event was inaugurated by a lamp lighting ceremony by:
Dr. Kumbhar – Ast. Director Health Care – Ophthalmology Govt of Maharashtra,
Pratima Harite – Standard Chartered Bank,
Mrs.Anahita Dastur Chairman, Lotus College of Optometry,
Mr. K. Ramakrishna – Hon. Secretary National Association for the Blind,
Mr. Bihari Shah – President Blind Person’s Association,
Elizabeth Kurian – Regional Director Sightsavers International,
Katrina Scaife – Sightsavers International UK.



Ms. Elizabeth Kurian – Regional Director Sightsavers International in her welcome address shared about Sightsavers and its work around the world and how it has been working actively in India since 1966 to eradicate avoidable blindness and place the visually impaired into the mainstream society.

Ms. Prema Chande – Principal – Lotus College of Optometry then shared her study about the pilot project conducted in Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum (Jan2008 – Jan 2009). The project revealed astonishing facts and laid the foundation for the e Mumbai Eye Care Campaign.

The study revealed that the three major barriers for not availing refractive error services was that 51% of them were not aware that eye care is important for their day to day to activities, 53% of them looked at it as a loss of time and eventually daily wages for going for an eye examination and 41% of them believed that they will not be able to afford eye care.

Ms Katrina Scaife – Sightsavers International ,shared her fond memories of her visit to Dharavi during the monsoons for the pilot project , she spoke about the association with Standard Chartered Bank and gave her best wishes to all the partners of MEC .




Bhavana Pande – Project Manager – Mumbai Eye Care Campaign shared how MEC had a two – fold motive – first to screen and treat 1.5 million people in various slums – Dharavi, Mankhurd, Malad for refractive error and second to spread primary eye care awareness amongst 10 millions Mumbaikars. She said she was looking forward to make Mumbai an Eye Friendly City – where people would not go blind due to ignorance . As per WHO statistics 75% blindness is avoidable.

Pratima Harite – Standard Chartered Bank – spoke about the association of Standard chartered bank and Sightsavers under the “Seeing is Believing” project and how together they have been able to effectively deal with various eye care issue over the years. She spoke fondly of her association with MEC and is looking forward to another major impact in eye care through this campaign.

Dr. Kumbhar – Ast Director Health care – Ophthalmology- govt of Maharashtra spoke about how he was excited about this campaign and was looking forward to extend all help on behalf of the government to make a difference to eradicate avoidable blindness.

Street plays were performed by the Aqua theatre group led by Junaid , these plays work as a major barrier working force in the slums of Mumbai. People were also shown 2 short eye documentaries that spoke about making a difference for this cause.



Shrinivas Sawant – Area Director Sightsavers ended the meet by a vote of thanks to the entire group of partners whose continuous efforts have made it possible to think of eradicating avoidable blindness from Mumbai and then the country.

Andra Pradesh DPM Workshop : Cataract Management Protocols, 27-28 April 2009

Summary :

Sightsavers strategy map states that our work should contribute in ensuring provision of quality eye care universally in government institutions and available as integral part of wider health system. Advocacy and working with government is one of the priority areas for SIAO as per the new strategic framework (2009- 2013). We aspire to collaborate in every possible way in order to minimize duplication of resources and efforts.

It does so through conducting a two day workshop on cataract management protocols for District Programme Managers of Andhra Pradesh. This workshop attempted to find the gaps between the expected and existing quality standards of district level eyecare facilities. The gaps have been identified qualitatively as well as quantitatively. While the qualitative parameters stressed on minimum quality protocols to be followed clinically, quantitative parameters embraced minimum performance output expected out of each human resource personnel at district level, respectively.

It does not claim to have all the answers, but suggests measures that state and national level policy-makers, eyecare partners and training institutions can use to advocate for equitable quality services across all socio-economic strata.

Action Points Implemented from DPM Meeting, 2008 :

The first breakthrough with AP State Blindness Control Society came in September 2008. It was then we organized SIAO’s first ever D.P.M. Meeting in Andhra Pradesh in association with AP Ophthalmic Society organized at Vijayawada. Since then, we have received full support from Dr Mothilal Bonathu, Joint Director – AP National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) in exploring the ways of working together.

The meeting generated a helm of concepts blending public and private stakeholders. The outcome of first DPM meeting resulted in partnership of Rotary Netra Eye Hospital, Vishakhapatnam with GREHTN (Government Regional Eye Hospital Teleophthalmology Network). Another step towards success from this meeting was evolution of concept for public private partnership between Sankar Foundation, Vishakhapatnam with HMRI (Health Management Research Institute) and Rajiv Gandhi Health Mission.

With these positive developments in last two quarters, SIAO planned second DPM workshop specifically on improving quality of cataract management. This workshop also witnessed mutual resource sharing between Sightsavers International, GoI NPCB (AP) and LVPEI.

Objectives:

1. Review the situation analysis of the eye care services in Andhra Pradesh.
2. To update knowledge of DPMs on the current best practices for cataract surgeries.
3. Discuss a common minimum clinical protocol that needs to be maintained.
4. Expression of interest to work together at all the levels from service delivery to advocacy with Sightsavers partners.

Immediate Output of the Workshop :

The Joint Director of NPCB (Andhra Pradesh) has endorsed the Sightsavers Standardization Manual (Guidelines for : Quality Catract Management in Secondary Level Eye Centres) prepared in collaboration with Venu Eye Institute and Research Centre with Sewa Rural, Jhagadia though a circular to all the 23 DPMs of the state.

Expected Outcomes:

• Action plan for 2009 -2010 enlisting milestones to achieve in collaboration.


• Availability of quality clinical services to the eye care beneficiaries of Andhra Pradesh integrated through Government service providers and our partners.


• Better understanding of trainees on core issue of Quality and Management in eye care programmes and day to day work leading to improved performance.


• Positive relation building with Sightsavers partners on field leading to solve trivial issues arising from administrative lacunae.
  

The action points and forward feed of this workshop is under documentation.

By: Shweta Chooramani (schooramani@sightsavers.org)

Celebration in the festival of democracy

62 years have passed but most of us have been second class citizens who are denied the right to secret ballot. We were always enthusiastic but whenever we went to the polling booth, there was the usual struggle of “assisted voting” which was an insult of our cerebral power. How does one ensure that an assistant (whoever he/she is) votes as per the instruction of the person being assisted?

But all that changed in General Elections 2009. Being blind was not a sign of powerlessness but empowerment in the true sense was experienced.

As soon as I entered the both along with my wife (who is also totally blind) we were greeted cordially and wee asked if we knew Braille. Upon affirmative answer, we were given Braille dummy ballot paper that contained the names symbols and parties of candidates sequentially and after we had read through we were taken to EVM which was also marked in Braille. For the first time in our lives we voted independently andproudly. No forms to be filled for assistants and no haggling.

I am a proud Indian since even USA and other developed nations do not have such sophisticated facilities.

Of course, let us not forget the days and years of struggle that we had to put to get the directive from the Supreme Court. This is just the beginning and we shall not rest with this, we have a long way to go and achieve miles of successes and who knows we may have a chief justice who is blind or a primeminister who is disabled. What we will always need is unstinting support of all of you since no battle is won by a soldier but an army with support of its fellow citizens is what makes great. Next 5 years will give more occasssion to celebrate but we must not get complacent.”



Ketan Kothari
Reach me at kkothari@sightsavers.org
Phone: 022 28821919