by Marie Kauna – EMTV Online, Port Moresby
A request has been made by the Rapid Assessment for Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) Survey team for the general public to support the survey team during their visit to places to conduct the RAAB population survey.
The survey which started on the 23rd of January is expected to be completed by March 10 if all schedules planned goes well with the team.
This week, the survey is in its fourth week and the team is working tirelessly to complete the survey before the end of March.
Over the past three weeks, the team visited several places around the country collecting information on prevalence of blindness, visual impairment, and eye care services in Papua New Guinea.
Apart from collecting data, the team also provided information about blindness and visual impairment and conducted free eye tests.
Photo: Dr Fabrizio D’Esposito and Senior Manager for PNG Eye Care Samuel Peter Koim visiting team Islands doing RAAB on Vunabalbal, Kokopo District, East New Britain.
With a few more weeks remaining before the completion of the survey, most of the clusters scheduled have been covered.
Last week, Dr Fabrizio D’Esposito, the Research Advisor for the Fred Hollows Foundation, Australia accompanied the survey team and visited several places including Gemo in Central Province, Hanuabada and Vunabalbal, Kokoppo District in East New Britain province.
This week, the survey teams are up in Southern Highlands (Team Highlands), East New Britain (Team Island), NCD and East Sepik (Team Coastal) Provinces. Team Coastal will continue in Madang and Morobe later this week.
When the survey is completed, the data collected will help the health professionals in their planning phase for improvement of the eye care services in the country.
http://www.emtv.com.pg/news/2017/02/rapid-assessment-for-avoidable-blindness-survey-underway/
Image: Team NCD doing Survey at Hanubada Village
