Dear MSO members,

In this inaugural issue of MSO Express for 2024, we look into the vital issue of global sight awareness, particularly in the beautiful state of Sabah. As we mark World Sight Day, observed on the second Thursday of October each year, our attention is drawn to the challenges faced by those with blindness and vision impairment worldwide.

Our first article shines a light on the World Sight Day celebrations in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. It was a week filled with impactful activities, including eye screening sessions held at significant locations such as the Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen Sabah, Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas (SKPK) Tuaran, and Sekolah Kebangsaan St James, Kudat. These screenings are crucial steps towards early detection and treatment of eye conditions, ensuring the community's eye health is prioritized.

In our second article, we explore the commendable efforts of KK-KKKM Mobile, a provider of cataract clinic services to rural areas of Sabah. Their dedicated work brings essential eye care services directly to those who need it most, bridging the gap between remote communities and healthcare resources.

ARTICLES

WORLD SIGHT DAY (WSD) CELEBRATION IN KOTA KINABALU, SABAH

World Sight Day falls on Thursday, 12th October 2023. It is an opportunity to focus the world’s attention on eye health as a global issue. It raises the awareness of eye health amongst individuals, families and communities as well as helps to activate the demand for eye health services globally. Following a hugely successful WSD 2022, this year, we are focusing the world’s attention on the importance of eye care in the workplace with the theme of “Love Your Eyes at Work”.

In recognition of WSD this October, Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), Hospital Wanita Dan Kanak-Kanak Sabah (HWKKS) and Fakulti Perubatan dan Sains Kesihatan (FPSK), University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) demonstrated our commitment to eye health by hosting a series of events that included free eye screenings, enlightening eye talk and school visits at the rural areas in Sabah.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital - Eye Screening in Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen Sabah

The Department of Ophthalmology of QEH led by Dr Sheena Mary Alexander (Head of Ophthalmology Department) had come up with the idea of screening the eyes for the dedicated police officers this year, responding to the theme of “Love Your Eyes at Work” for WSD 2023. The occurrence of most of the ocular morbidities among police officers was believed to be occupational-related. It might be contributed to the direct glare from the sun, prolonged exposure to the ultraviolet rays, ocular trauma or trauma-related complications and prolonged near works.

The eye screening programme was held successfully with the assistance and cooperation given by Asistan Superintenden Polis (ASP) Muhammad Abu Zar on 21st October 2023 in the Banquet Hall, Sabah Contingent Police Headquarters, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

The Ophthalmology team comprised of 11 ophthalmologists, 18 medical officers, 6 optometrists and 16 supporting staffs had joined the screening programme. Visual acuity was assessed with Snellen chart and slit lamp examination was done to look for anterior segment ocular diseases such as dry eyes or ocular surface diseases and pterygium which were commonly seen with prolonged sun exposure. Fundus photography was taken for diabetic patients for diabetic retinopathy screening. Intraocular pressure was checked with I-care for high-risk patients.

KK-KKM MOBILE: BRINGING HIGH-IMPACT, GOOD QUALITY AND LOW-COST EYE CARE CLOSER TO HOME

KK-KKM (Klinik Katarak Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia), or Cataract Clinic, Ministry of Health Malaysia, is a novel initiative by the Malaysian Ministry of Health to reach out to the underserved population in remote areas of the country. It is operational in the states which have a high prevalence of Cataract Blindness (as per the findings in the National Eye Survey, NES II in 2014); Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang (in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia) and Sarawak. The concept of the program is based on providing essential eye care services, especially cataract surgery, to the community living within the service areas of the District Hospitals. It uses a bus as a transporter for medical or surgical equipment. On arrival at the locations, the equipment/instruments are off-loaded to the clinic for patient screening or the operation room for cataract surgery. Unlike other cataract mobile units in other countries,  surgery is not done on the bus. Instead, all activities optimise the District Hospitals' existing facilities that otherwise have low usage due to low population density. KK-KKM also uses the facilities in these hospitals to prepare patients before surgery prior to the bus's arrival and examine patients during one-week and one-month follow-up reviews to evaluate their visual outcomes.

Since its inception, KK-KKM has provided adequate access to essential eye care services and delivered high-quality cataract surgery with minimum complication to people living in remote areas at lower costs close to home. Individuals requiring cataract surgery do not have to bear the high costs of seeking treatment and coming for follow-ups in the main hospitals.

KK-KKM features a collaboration of multiple stakeholders and eye-care providers from the community, Non-Governmental Bodies (NGOs), local Councils, Community Nurses, Primary Eye Care Doctors, Optometrists and Ophthalmologists. Advocacy starts at the primary care level through the impactful sessions of cataract finder training to the NGOs, community leaders, pharmacists, teachers and District Hospitals' staff. They are encouraged to conduct primary screening and refer individuals with cataracts for further assessment during secondary screening by the Optometrists. Secondary screening is publicised by parking the bus in front of the hospital. It is done within two weeks before the arrival of the bus. The timetable of the bus movement throughout the states is also distributed at the beginning of a calendar year. This fixed timetable facilitates the financial and travel planning for people from rural areas to the KK-KKM locations.