New machine arrives to give newborns new hope

THE Port Moresby General Hospital has obtained a screening machine that can help detect eye problems in babies, particularly premature ones.
It can help detect eye problems at an early stage and therefore allow early treatment that can prevent blindness.
Pediatrician Dr Roland Barnabas said the machine, called ophthalmoscope, was the first of its type in the country and would help detect eye or sight complications in children born prematurely.
Unioversty of PNG Medical School lecturer Dr Wabulembo Geoffrey said 25,000 premature babies were born annually in PNG and about 2000 of them would possibly become blind if they were not checked and treated.
“Basically, we have no idea about our population of prematurity with the complications and now that we have the equipment, it is going to help us with screening to give us a clear idea about the number of babies with eye complications,” he said.