RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY (ROP)
According to the World Health Organisation, 3.5 million preterm birth happens in our country which is 26% of entire worlds premature population in a year. These babies are born with associated growth problems due to prematurity or acquire some soon after they are born. One such leading complications these babies fight with is Retinopathy of Prematurity.
Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a serious eye condition that affects the retina, the light-sensitive nerve tissue at the back of the eye, in premature infants with low birth weight.
If not detected and treated in time, ROP can lead to vision impairment or even blindness. Have A Heart Foundation marked a significant milestone for the Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) program, which officially launched in late 2022, beginning its efforts in Jaipur. This initiative is central to the foundation’s mission of preventing blindness in premature infants through early detection and treatment of ROP. The Foundation is supporting the program in 23 cities and over 55 hospitals in the cities of Jaipur, Bhopal, Belgaum, Punjab, Surat, Goa etc and has so far screened over 5000 babies.
For more on ROP, please refer to Narayana Nethralaya’s website - KIDROP | Narayana Nethralaya
Braving the Light:
“A Child’s Journey Through ROP Surgery. Watch as this little fighter undergoes a crucial procedure to save their vision from Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). A testament to resilience, hope, and the power of medical care”.
Timely intervention has played a crucial role in preserving the sight of these vulnerable babies
8,269
A Total of Screenings
3,439
Unique Infants
262
At risk and in need of treatment
Thus far the HAHF has supported the program in 41 cities and over 85 hospitals including Jaipur, Bhopal, Belgaum, Punjab, Surat, Goa etc with 35000 sessions, over 14700 unique babies for screening and 1075 treatments (6.9%) have been performed successfully in the last financial year and continuing to do so. This has lessened the burden of blindness in those 6.9 % of babies’ and their families who have received treatment.
Our future of expansion of the project includes places like Bihar, Mumbai, Varanasi, Patna, Indore, Meghalaya and many more. The expansion plans are in progress and by the end of 2024 we intend to cover as many as possible in the country, thereby trying to reduce and prevent blindness for these tiny precious citizens.
The project intends to create job opportunities, leverage the gap of ROP screening in the country by supporting the hospitals and doctors and contribute towards a preventable blindness to create a better society.
