4 hospitals in the first phase of the Glaucoma Early Detection Initiative

 

The Ministry of Health and Population announced the selection of ophthalmology hospitals in Zagazig, Damanhour, Assiut, and Imbaba as initial sites for the first phase of the national initiative for early detection of glaucoma, which is scheduled to be launched soon.

 

 

This step comes within the President’s Human Development Initiative, under the slogan “A New Beginning for Human Building,” which aims to improve the quality of life of citizens throughout the Republic, by providing advanced government services that include all fields, especially in the health sector.

 

Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population, stated that the initiative represents a qualitative shift in health care in Egypt, as it aims to detect early glaucoma, which is one of the most prominent causes of blindness, and provide treatment in its early stages, stressing that  The Ministry looks forward to reducing rates of vision loss and improving the quality of life of patients by reaching the largest possible number of citizens in various governorates.

 

Abdul Ghaffar pointed out that the selection of the participating hospitals was based on geographical distribution, the availability of human and technical capabilities, in addition to the frequency density of these facilities, and they were also equipped with the latest medical devices such as an ocular tomography (OCT) machine, measuring eye pressure with air, and measuring visual field, To ensure the provision of accurate diagnostic services.

 

Dr. Muhammad Zidan, Head of the Central Administration for Therapeutic Medicine, explained that field teams are currently monitoring the readiness of the hospitals participating in the initiative, as independent places have been allocated within these hospitals to receive citizens, in cooperation with the General Authority for Health Insurance and the General Authority for Educational Institutes.

 

 Zidan pointed to coordination with hospital information centers to record data using a unified system, which aims to create a central database for the beneficiaries of the initiative, which contributes to facilitating data analysis and following up on the development of cases.

 

Within the framework of raising the efficiency of medical personnel, Dr. Rami Abu Al-Ezz, Director of the Ophthalmology Department, said that a steering committee has been formed that includes representatives of the General Administration of Ophthalmology, Public Initiatives Affairs, and directors of participating hospitals.

 

Abu Al-Ezz indicated that the committee coordinated with the International Glaucoma Society to train 20 doctors specializing in glaucoma, with the aim of ensuring the provision of high-quality medical services during the first phase of the initiative.

 

It is worth noting that this initiative represents a vital step in improving eye health among citizens, and enhancing the prevention of complications of glaucoma, which is one of the most prominent visual health challenges. Through joint efforts and modern technologies, the Ministry of Health and Population seeks to provide an integrated model of health care that contributes to reducing the rates of Blindness and improving the quality of life of citizens.