According to the Ministry, Retinopathy screening is extremely important to prevent diabetic blindness as 24 percent urban and 14 percent of the rural population have diabetes. The Health Ministry urge the people including schoolchildren to attend this screening as disease is increasingly affecting the younger generation.

Public awareness programs on diabetic retinopathy were conducted in all eye clinics island wide and diabetic retinopathy screening clinics with body mass index measurements, free nutritional advice and prompt referrals to appropriate units for treatment and qualified physicians for advice are available for all.

'Vision 2020 Sri Lanka' is also lobbying for equipment needed to detect and treat diabetic retinopathy at all clinics island 'wide, including eye care in all diabetes and non communicable diseases programs are also on the cards.

(ST/KH)