ROP screening vital for averting childhood blindness:experts

Staff Reporter: Leading gynecologists, neonatologists, pediatricians, and ophthalmologists in Bangladesh have emphasized the need for mass awareness campaigns on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) to prevent childhood blindness among premature babies.
They noted that a lack of awareness among the public and even physicians about ROP—its risks, consequences, and management—is a major challenge.
Speaking at a two-day “Workshop on ROP”, organized by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and Orbis International at Holiday Inn in Dhaka on Tuesday, experts urged timely screening and treatment of ROP to prevent blindness.
The workshop brought together specialists from major medical colleges and hospitals across the country.
ROP is a vaso-proliferative disorder that affects the retina in premature and low-birthweight infants. Timely screening, between 20 and 30 days of life, is critical as the disease can rapidly progress to blindness. Bangladesh records over 3 million births annually, with around 400,000 babies born prematurely and at risk of ROP.
Prof Md Abu Jafor, Director General of Health Services, stressed the importance of collaborative efforts among ophthalmologists, neonatologists, and nurses to decentralize ROP screening and treatment. He underscored the need for awareness among physicians to improve ROP prevention.
Prof Mohammod Shahidullah highlighted that ROP screening should not be limited to ophthalmologists but also involve neonatologists, pediatricians, and trained nurses. “No eligible preterm or low-birthweight baby should be left unscreened,” he stated.
Prof Nazmun Nahar praised Orbis’s efforts to prevent blindness but called for expanded programs and public campaigns to raise awareness about the necessity of ROP screening. She emphasized the need for a national protocol to guide ROP screening and management.
Prof Laila Arjumand Banu noted the increasing significance of ROP screening due to the rise in premature births from assisted reproductive technologies. She recommended forming committees at tertiary hospitals and health facilities to ensure screening and management.
Prof Munir Hossain and Prof Sanjoy Kumar Dey stressed the importance of equipping all medical colleges with ROP screening facilities, ensuring quality survival for preterm babies.
Prof Abdul Mannan concluded by urging physicians and parents to prioritize ROP screening, as delays often stem from a lack of awareness and misinformation. Awareness campaigns targeting mothers could yield significant results in preventing vision loss in premature infants.