MANOJ SINHA
Ramgarh, April 18: It is now possible to treat Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), a common disease in premature babies, at HZB Arogyam Superspeciality Hospital in Hazaribagh.
ROP is an eye disorder caused by abnormal blood vessel growth in the light-sensitive part of the eyes (retina) of premature infants. In such a situation, the child grows up and becomes a victim of blindness.
It is a newly emerging disease in premature babies. Although it was present before, its incidence is increasing exponentially and is taking premature babies in its grip rapidly.
HZB Arogyam Superspeciality Hospital has taken an initiative to save premature babies from blindness. The most effective treatment for this disease is laser-equipped surgery.
Eye specialist Dr. Tirthjit Maitra and Pediatrician Dr. Hiralal saved an infant from being a victim of blindness and gave him a new flight of life at HZB Arogyam.
The premature baby of Jitendra Rajak and Rani Devi of Koderma was brought to the Arogyam Hospital for treatment after he was found to have symptoms of ROP. The doctors after conducting a screening saved the eyesight through a complex laser treatment which continued for 2 hours.
Dr. Tirthajit Maitra said that most of the babies born before the completion of pregnancy suffer from this disease. The process of development of the child takes place between 20-and 40 weeks of pregnancy. Most babies before 34 weeks and weighing less than 2 kg have a higher risk of getting this disease.
“Usually, this type of treatment was possible only in metropolitan cities but after taking special training through laser technology for the first time in Arogyam Hospital, we have succeeded in returning the light to an infant,” said Dr. Tirthajit Maitra.
He further said that ROP can be treated in Hazaribagh now and that people can get it treated quickly and cheaply instead of going to expensive hospitals in metro cities. It should be noted that to provide better and quality medical facilities for the unusual condition of the newborn in Arogyam Hospital, a NICU ward has been established following national quality standards, with every medical facility to save the lives of babies available under the supervision of Pediatrician Dr. Hiralal. The NICU Ward has a total of 15 beds. The CPAP machine and a ventilator are also available here. Newborns are also treated under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
Harsh Ajmera, Director of Arogyam Hospital, expressed happiness over the successful treatment of retinopathy of prematurity for the first time in Hazaribagh. He congratulated the doctors and the team of doctors involved in it and said that the treatment has been provided under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. In this, the family of the patient did not have to bear any expenses separately. “We aim to provide relief to the people by making the impossible possible,” he said.
