Reducing Diabetic Blindness in Far-Flung Sub-Saharan Rural Communities: Odot, Nsit-Atai as a Case Study

Emmanuel Olu  Megbelayin; Margaret  Mboho

doi:10.4236/oalib.1101117

Emmanuel Olu Megbelayin¹, Margaret Mboho²

Abstract: Background: Odot is the head-quarter of Nsit-Atai local government, 70 kilometers from Uyo, the Akwa-Ibom state capital. About 5000 population has a Comprehensive Health Center, a Primary Health Centre and 2 Health Posts to meet its enormous health needs. Additionally, the workers in these health facilities are neither trained nor equipped to render eye care services. Patients with systemic diseases with potentially debilitating effects on vision come to the urban tertiary referral health center at terminal blinding stages. This trend requires an urgent attention to curb diabetic blindness among often vibrant working population. Objective: To explore how scheduled vision screening exercises can help reduce blindness from diabetic mellitus in this rural community. Methodology: Major databases including National library of Medicine PubMed were searched for relevant data. Additional information was obtained by on-sight assessment of the index community. Conclusion: From community health standpoint, vision screening remains a cheap avenue to arrest diabetic blindness in Nsit-Atai and similar set-ups around the world.

Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, Blindness, Health Planning, Eye Screening, Medical Economics

Cite this paper: Megbelayin, E. and Mboho, M. (2014) Reducing Diabetic Blindness in Far-Flung Sub-Saharan Rural Communities: Odot, Nsit-Atai as a Case Study. Open Access Library Journal, 1, 1-4. doi: 10.4236/oalib.1101117.

References

[1] Adeleye, J.O., Agada, N.O., Balogun, W.O., Adetunji, O.R. and Onyegbutulem, H.O. (2006) Diabetes Care in Nigeria: Time for a Paradigm Shift. Africa Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, 35, 155-159.

[2] Einar, S., Toke, B., Porta, M., Larsen, N., Johannes, K. and Agardh, E. (2000) Screening and Prevention of Diabetic. Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica, 78, 374-385.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0420.2000.078004374.x

[3] Agardh, E., Agardh, C.-D., Hansson-Lundblad, C. and Cavallin, S.U. (1996) The Importance of Early Diagnosis of Treatable Diabetic Retinopathy for the Four-Year Visual Outcome in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica, 74, 166-170.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0420.1996.tb00064.x

[4] Henricsson, M., Tyrberg, M., Hejl, A. and Janzon, L. (1996) Incidence of Blindness and Visual Impairment in Diabetic Patients Participating in an Ophthalmological Control and Screening Programme. Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica, 74, 533-538.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0420.1996.tb00729.x

[5] Kristinsson, J.K., Hauksdottir, H., Stefansson, E., Jonasson, F. and Gιslason, I. (1997) Active Prevention in Diabetic Eye Disease. Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica, 75, 249-254.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0420.1997.tb00766.x

[6] WHO (2004) The Global Burden of Disease: 2004 Update. World Health Organization, Geneva.

[7] Harande, Y.I. (2011) Exploring the Literature of Diabetes in Nigeria: A Bibliometrics Study. African Journal of Diabetes Medicine, 2, 1-4.

[8] (2009) Diabetes-Deadly, Un-Funded and Unidentified. International Diabetes Federation, Africa.
http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=83280

[9] Nwafor, A. and Owhoji, A. (2001) Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus among Nigerians in Port Harcourt Correlates with Socio-Economic Status. Journal of Applied Science and Environment Management, 5, 75-77.

[10] Adefemi, K. (2009) What You Need to Know about Diabetes.
http://ezine articles.com/?What-You-Need-To-Know-About-Diabetes&id=22656

[11] Foster, A. and Resnikoff, S. (2005) The Impact of Vision 2020 on Global Blindness. Eye, 19, 1133-1135.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.eye.6701973

[12] Nwosu, S.N.N. (2000) Prevalence and Pattern of Retinal Diseases at the Guinness Eye Hospital, Onitsha, Nigeria. Ophthalmic Epidemiology, 1, 41-48.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1076/0928-6586(200003)711-2FT041

[13] Pepper, D.J., Levitt, N.S., Cleary, S. and Burch, V.C. (2007) Hyperglycaemic Emergency Admissions to a Secondary-Level Hospital—An Unnecessary Financial Burden. South Africa Medical Journal, 97, 963-967.

[14] World Health Organization (2008) 2008-2013 Action Plan for the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases. WHO, Geneva.