Odisha to set up virtual skill centre for eye doctors

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to improve skills of doctors and paramedics working in field of eye care, Odisha government decided to set up a virtual skill centre to impart advanced training to the eye specialists.

The proposed virtual skill centre to come up on the premises of Skill Development Institute (SDI) located at Mancheswar in Bhubaneswar.

The eye doctors and paramedics working in the field will be provided necessary training at the virtual skill centre to provide better eye care to the patients. The experienced doctors can also take training at the institute, informed a senior official in health department.

The doctors and health workers will be trained through simulator provided by various companies. As the Universal Eye Health Programme to keep people protected from avoidable vision related issues and to provide comprehensive eye care to people of all age groups has been launched in Odisha, the proposed centre will help in making the programme successful, he said.

Meanwhile, the government has decided to open mobile vision clinic in 10 tribal districts. As per the move, the mobile vision van equipped with eye test equipment and an official in rank of Assistant Ophthalmic will travel in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nuapada, Deogarh, Mayurbhanj and Gajapati districts.

The mobile vision van will travel every block once in a week or 15 days. The patients require having surgery; will be referred to the concerned district headquarters hospital.

On the other hand, decision has been made to provide required equipment to 70 community health centres (CHCs) in the district in the next three years. The patients simultaneously diagnosed with eye problems and diabetes, the retina of their eyes will be photographed. The patients, who need laser treatment, will be referred to the medical colleges and Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar, an official informed.