Submitted by administrator on
A research study on diabetic retinopathy has been completed in Fiji that has investigated how services are coordinated, the rates of patient engagement and looking at the entire nation's health system and it's proposed ability to handle future patients. The study by Dr Damato goes some way to evaluate the scale of the problem and how best to investigate its containment to reduce the workload and burden on current eye care provision systems.
A staggering percentage of resident Fijians ( 40%) suffer from diabetes and the concern is that the issue of avoidable blindness and number of cases of diabetic retinopathy will overwhelm the current health care service if a management strategy is not implemented soon.
Diabetic Retinopathy is a major cause for blindness in the nation and the results of Dr Demato's study has highlighted just how complex the problem currently is. Over six thousand consultations have been provided by the Diabetes Eye Clinic that was built with funding support from The New Zealand and Australian Aid Programs. The Clinic provides specialized equipment, screenings, reviews and an outreach program that shows major commitment to tackling the management of diabetes in the Pacific.
Dr Damato's findings for the first phase of the study will be made in early December in Melbourne. The second phase will examine suggestions for closer integration of services and collaborations between local and international health organisations.