On November 29, 2022, Heal Africa organized a consultation for diagnosis, free voluntary screening and prevention of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic patients followed in the diabetes clinic of Heal Africa Hospital as well as other people with diabetes in the city of Goma were the beneficiaries of this activity. It involved 78 patients, of whom six cases of retinopathy and four suspected cases of cataracts were diagnosed.

Retinopathy is a condition of the inner layer of the eye (the retina) due to excess sugar. It is in fact a disease with risk factors: unbalanced diabetes, advanced age, non-adherence to treatments, high blood pressure, pregnancy, kidney failure, tobacco consumption, etc.

As mentioned above, diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the main ocular complication during diabetes. It is part of diabetic microangiopathy, a damage to small blood vessels, especially arterioles and arteriolar capillaries that supply organs. Its global prevalence is estimated at 34.6% and affects between 16 and 77% of people with diabetes in Africa. It is the leading cause of blindness in the working-age population and is more common in type 1 and 2 diabetic patients.

In fact, there are manifestations of some clinical signs including decreased vision (without pain), hyperglycemia, and self-medication. However, the disease is preventable by stabilizing blood sugar and high blood pressure, adhering to treatment, and by undergoing regular eye examination.

This day dedicated to consultations for free voluntary screening, diagnosis, and prevention of diabetic retinopathy organized at HEAL Africa, Goma, was made possible thanks to the support of Lions Club International in collaboration with Aide Vision.

It should be noted that the Diabetes Clinic at HEAL Africa Hospital, in the city of Goma, continues to receive diabetic patients for exchange sessions with their caregivers to enable them to better know and, consequently, live better with their disease.