The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), in collaboration with the Primary Healthcare Corporation (PHCC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), has recently organized a workshop in preparation for the national visual impairment and blindness survey in Qatar.
The national survey adopts an integrated system that includes the training of the research team, data collection and analysis, and covers a sample of 5,000 people aged 50 years or above, as most blindness cases have been confirmed to occur in this age group, and the survey is scheduled to begin on May 22, 2022.
The preparatory workshop for the national visual impairment and blindness survey includes theoretical and practical training provided by WHO ophthalmology consultant to the workshop participants of ophthalmologists, opticians, and nurses of health centers. The training will focus on the national survey mechanism to detect vision impairment and blindness as well as the use of the latest version of the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB7) survey in data entry. The training will also feature a field visit on the third and fifth days of the workshop to the health centers participating in the survey to conduct examinations on a sample of patients.
MoPH Director of Public Health Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani said: Despite the medical and scientific development in the field of ophthalmology, some eye diseases continue to pose a threat to eyesight, and in this context the MoPH, in cooperation with the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and the PHCC institutions, seeks to promote the level of ophthalmology services in Qatar to match the best international levels. The MoPH is also implementing the national survey on vision impairment and blindness in collaboration with the PHCC and the WHO to assess the prevalence and causes of vision impairment.
The Public Health Department Director invited the target group of citizens and residents aged 50 and above who will be contacted by the MoPH competent team to participate in the survey to help evaluate the services provided and to develop better eye health plans and programs in the state of Qatar.
Managing Director of PHCC Dr. Maryam Ali Abdul Malik stressed the importance of the valuable and purposeful partnership between the MoPH and the PHCC in many health programs aiming to promote health services to the highest international standards and levels for all community members, noting that this national survey is another example of such constructive partnership. She further urged citizens and residents to help make this survey an exemplary success to benefit participants themselves as well as health institutions so that they could develop plans for promoting healthcare services to all community members. She further added that survey participants will be received in five health centers for the necessary tests in the areas of La’bieb, Al-Thumama, Al-Wjbah, Um Salal and Mesaimeer.
Dr. Maryam Abdul Malik further stated: “The PHCC attaches special priority to eye health, where specialized competencies were provided in this field using the latest equipment and devices to help diagnose and investigate eye diseases. She noted that eye clinics were established in seventeen PHCC health centers, adding that they received over 200,000 patients in 2021 despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Samia Al Abdullah, Executive Director of the Operations Department, PHCC, explained that the eye clinics in the HMC and the PHCC have provided screening services for early detection of eye diseases that can cause blindness, such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataract on an ongoing basis.
Dr. Kholoud Atiq Al Mutawa, Head of Non-Communicable Disease Section at MOPH, said: "The ophthalmology field in Qatar has witnessed significant progress and expansion in recent years as reflected in the development of eye health services provided to everyone in Qatar. She also highlighted scientific research as one of the most important pillars that help prepare and implement programs and plans, and in this context lies the importance of this national survey for the detection of visual impairment and blindness as an essential pillar for the development of an effective eye health strategy.
Dr. Badria al-Maliki, national coordinator for blindness control, pointed out that this survey is an urgent necessity in light of the ongoing development of our health services for ophthalmology and the provision of specialized clinics in PHCC health centers to radically eliminate the prevalence of poor eyesight and extend the extent of coverage of health services for the elderly and diabetics. He noted that the last specialized survey in this field was conducted in 2009.
Dr. Mohammed Mansour, WHO ophthalmology consultant and workshop presenter, has said: “This survey will include conducting screening tests to detect diabetic retinopathy complications and measure its prevalence among participants as well as the availability of ophthalmology health services such as cataract operations.” He added that the survey will use the new version of the data entry and analysis program (RAAB7) as Qatar is the third country in the world to use this program in cooperation with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine to ensure that information will be handled in an advanced and confidential manner.
For his part, MoPH ophthalmologist Dr. Shadi Al-Ashwal noted that the results of the national vision impairment and blindness survey in Qatar will provide important data on the prevalence of blindness, diabetic retinopathy, and the causes of visual impairment to achieve the international health goals and priorities for eye health stipulated on the World Report on Vision published by the WHO. The survey will also assist health policymakers in developing strategic plans for healthcare services using evidence-based eye health research and according to the requirements of community members in the State of Qatar.
Source: Ministry of Public Health