The experts recommended for conducting a blindness and vision impairment (BVI) survey for the Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar as well as for the host communities to have a clear picture about their eye health situation and tackle eye problems.
Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), was present as the chief guest at the workshop, presided over by Prof AHM Enayet Hussain, Chair of IAPB Bangladesh Chapter and Additional Director General of DGHS.
Dr Jerry Vincent, Consultant of Seva Foundation of the USA, presented the keynote paper, based on the findings of a comprehensive situation analysis of Rohingya people.
Dr Munir Ahmed, Country Director of Orbis International Bangladesh, and Dr Zareen Khair, Chair of INGO Forum and Country Director of the Fred Hollows Foundation, also spoke at the event.
The experts said conducting a BVI survey will provide the data needed for planning the services needed to contribute to reduction in blindness and vision impairment among the Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar and the local communities.
The survey will also strengthen Bangladesh’s capacity to deal with eye care crisis, they added.
The speakers also suggested integrating primary eye care into the primary healthcare system, providing basing eye services – cataract surgery and provision of eyeglasses – without discrimination, and setting up emergency eye referral processes.
