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In Jakarta, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness or low vision for poor adults with diabetes.

About the project

Of the two thirds of Jakarta's population who live below the poverty line (12 million), about 1 in 10 have diabetes and the problem is growing.

Most diabetics develop diabetic retinopathy (DR) within 20 years of being diagnosed with diabetes.

Diabetic Retinopathy Initiative

DR is a condition in which there are changes in the blood vessels leading to the retina, resulting in vision impairment and blindness.

If DR is detected and treated at an early stage, it can reduce severe vision loss by 50%. At present, the Indonesian health care system is not equipped to detect and treat individuals with DR. The vast majority of the Indonesian population do not have access to vital health services such as advanced DR treatment.

Through our partner Helen Keller International, we aim to initiate an affordable comprehensive DR screening and treatment programme targeting poor adults living in Jakarta.

The programme will also increase awareness of the benefits to vision from regular screening and treatment for DR among diabetic patients. It will educate health care professionals about the need to refer patients for vision examinations and provide them with equipment and training.

Refractive Error Initiative

Jakarta has about 236,000 students. The second section of the programme aims to improve the vision of students and also teachers and adults in Greater Jakarta.

People from low-income households, preferably women, will be trained to become Seeing is Beliving Vision Entrepreneurs (SiBVEs), enabling them to screen adults and provide spectacles whilst earning an income.

By 2012 we aim to have:

• Screened 247,000 adults and 125,000 school children
• Screened 5,000 people with diabetes
• Training 25 people to become SiBVEs
• Referred or treated 750 people with DR
• Reached 150,000 people on awareness of DR
• Trained 30 eye doctors on DR

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