Making progress in closing the gap in Indigenous eye health

Professor Hugh Taylor AC of the University of Melbourne Indigenous Eye Health Unit (IEHU) launched the 2015 Annual Update on the Implementation of the Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision and the new 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' Diabetes Eye Care Resources at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday 23 November 2015. Of the 42 recommendations in the Roadmap, all recommendations show progress and seven are complete.

 

The work of the IEHU is supported by Aspen Medical through the Aspen Foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to significantly reduce or eradicate key illnesses in the Australian community.

According to Professor Taylor, “With continued and full government support at all levels, the gap for Indigenous vision can be closed within the next four years.

 

“The next steps are to ensure every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person with diabetes gets an eye examination once a year, to develop regional eye care services and to eliminate the remaining hotspots for trachoma.”

 

The 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' resources developed in partnership with Grampians VIC, Looma WA and Deception Bay QLD communities will help to stop people with diabetes from unnecessarily losing their sight.

Aspen Medical’s subsidiary, Remote Area Health Corps (RAHC), has developed a suite of 15 free eLearning modules to support health professionals on placement in remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. Modules focussing on trachoma and diabetes were developed in conjunction with the IEHU team.

 

Pictured at the launch (L – R): Professor Hugh Taylor AC, Mel Keys – Chair of Aspen Foundation, Glenn Keys - Executive Director and co-founder of Aspen Medical.

Originally published on Aspen Medical's website.