Region 10 HCPs receive diabetes, eye care training

Some 34 Health Care Professionals (HCPs) were on Sunday trained at a workshop on diabetes and eye care at the Linden Hospital Complex in Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice).
The one-day Health Care Professionals’ workshop is part of the Guyana Diabetic Retinopathy programme’s mandate to promote education and awareness about diabetes in the eye amongst HCPs such as general medical practitioners and nurses with the objective of increasing awareness of diabetic complications of the eye.
A total of 34 healthcare professionals – 18 doctors, 13 nurses, 2 optometrists and 1 medex – were trained in sessions about diabetes, nutritional aspects of diabetes care, counselling of persons with diabetes, diabetes and how it affects the eye, screening for diabetic retinopathy, and they were also taught how to examine the eye during practical sessions.
At the end of the workshop, participants gave positive reviews and indicated that they have a better understanding of how diabetes affects the eye. A majority of participants were pleased with the curriculum and the format and flow of the presentations.
The 5-member training team comprised of personnel from various levels at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and included an ophthalmologist, optometrist, general practitioner, nutritionist and a nurse.
The Guyana Diabetic Retinopathy programme is part of the Guyana Diabetes Care Project of the Public Health Ministry. This project is being funded by the World Diabetes Foundation along with other international stakeholders such as Orbis International and the University of Toronto.
The main objective of the programme is to establish a formal Diabetic Retinopathy Screening and Treatment programme in Guyana. Since the project started in July 2016, persons with diabetes can now have regular screening for diabetic eye complications.