Fighting blindness among Diabetics, A session by Padma Shri Dr. S Natarajan and Dr. Geeta Menon for WeSchool PGDM-Healthcare students

In Photo: Prof. Dr. Uday Salunkhe, Group Director, WeSchool; Padma Shri Dr. S Natarajan; Dr. Geeta Menon and WeSchool healthcare faculty and senior team

The study, published in the 'Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology' journal, found that the amount of insulin needed to effectively treat type 2 diabetes will rise by more than 20 per cent worldwide over the next 12 years. The findings are of particular concern for the African, Asian, and Oceania regions which the study predicts will have the largest unmet insulin need in 2030 if access remains at current levels.

Keeping in view the effect of Diabetes on eyesight, two stalwarts from healthcare namely Padma Shri awardee Dr S. Natarajan (Chairman and Managing Director, Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital & President Elect, All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS)) and Prof Dr Geeta Menon (Post Graduate Dean for South London, Health Education England and recipient of Excellence in Patient Care Award 2017 – International), interacted with Healthcare students, WeSchool campus. They elaborated on challenges and success stories in their effort for community welfare through healthcare.

Professor Menon shared her contribution to diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening programme in the Copperbelt province in Zambia, providing improvements in the management of DR – the leading cause of blindess in working age people in the developing world. The implementation of the DR screening service is the first of its kind in Zambia. In order to ensure its safe and continued delivery, I have developed a competency based training programme for the DR service. Training has been given using a multidisciplinary team approach with a mix of hands-on classroom and clinical teaching in Zambia. This educational programme is now being introduced in Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi.

An innovative approach within the DR service was the screening results given following consultation. The geography of the region meant that it would be challenging to give screening results outside of the immediate consultation. A nurse-led counselling service is offered where results are given and further treatment options discussed if necessary. This innovative approach has improved the uptake of subsequent treatment and can easily be replicated.

Sharing his work and perspective, Dr Natarajan explained the role of Aditya Jyot Foundation and the work being done by it to prevent blindness among Diabetics. He naratted how the foundation's outreach programs connect with patients in rural areas and urban slums and how the foundation strives to provide quality eye care especially for the underprivileged. The foundation runs hundreds of Diabetic Retinopathy Screening camps and has already screened over 70,000 people and over 6,000 children. Dr Natarajan also talked about the STOP Blindness and “Jyot Se Jyot Jalao” initiatives and urged student volunteers to join him for this noble cause.

Over last 34 years, Dr Natarajan has performed over 29000 exclusive Vitreo-retinal surgeries. He has trained 68 Vitreo-retinal surgeons across the globe. Dr. Natarajan performed more than 200 complicated VR surgeries on pellet injury patients and in 2 ½ days he performed record 47 VR surgeries continuously which is itself a noble thing for humanity, GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR has declared “State Award to Prof Dr S Natarajan for his Meritorious Public Service”. Multiple articles on Dr. S. Natarajan’s dedication and commitment towards the service done for the ocular trauma victims in Kashmir in The New York Times and many other newspapers and magazines all over the world.