Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Training in Malawi
Focusing on One Important Emerging Blinding Disease
Screening for diabetic retinopathy prevents blindness. There is no systematic screening programme for diabetic eye disease in Malawi and people are presenting when they have lost vision and it is too late for treatment.
The aim of these workshops has been to develop capacity for screening and treatment for diabetic retinopathy. Most recent figures put the population of Malawi at just over 18 million but there are only 8 consultant ophthalmologists working in the whole country.
The need for training other cadre within Malawi and other African countries to manage the workload is clear. To achieve this since 2015 over 100 ophthalmic clinical officers (OCO’s), nurses and optometrists have been taught in all regions of Malawi using the Arclight, simulation tools and educational posters.