Prevention of Retinopathy of Prematurity - the programme was launched in 2001. Initially, the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation purchased 7 diode lasers for treatment centres in hospitals in Katowice, Łódź, Białystok, Poznań, Szczecin, Gdańsk, and Wrocław.
The Foundation equipped all neonatal intensive care units in Poland with 129 ophthalmoscopes (used to see inside the fundus of the eye) and 27 laser devices. Currently, there are 21 treatment centres, which the Foundation has equipped, and till autumn of 2021, doctors have examined and diagnosed 261 765 prematurely born babies and saved the eyesight of 11,473 babies (according to data from Janunary 2023)!
This type of retinopathy is caused by premature birth, and it means that the retina (part of the eye) is not developed correctly yet when the child is born. The damaged retina can eventually cause substantial loss of eyesight and, when left untreated in the early stages, can result in loss of sight. First symptoms can be diagnosed between 1 and 3 months of a baby's life, so doctors need to have access to sophisticated equipment such as laser surgery devices. The best chance to save the child's eyesight is a quick diagnosis and effective treatment undertaken as early as possible.
Retinopathy
Fundacja wyposażyła 21 wyspecjalizowanych ośrodków zajmujących się leczeniem retinopatii w najnowocześniejszy sprzęt laserowy - fotokoagulatory laserowe.
The Foundation equipped all neonatal intensive care units in Poland with 125 ophthalmoscopes (used to see inside the fundus of the eye) and 27 laser devices. Currently, there are 19 treatment centres, which have been equipped by the Foundation and till January 2021 doctors have examined and diagnosed 254 919 prematurely born babies and saved the eyesight of 10 692 babies!
Just days after opening registrations, 467 Collection Centres have signed up to participate in the 33rd Grand Finale fundraiser organised by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, with 100 centres already confirmed! Registration for Collection Centres will remain open until 18 November 2024, and the number of volunteers continues to grow. On 26 January 2025, we will unite to support paediatric oncology and hematology.
Exactly 102 days before the 33rd Grand Finale of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, Jurek Owsiak announced the medical objective for our upcoming winter fundraiser, during an attempt to break the world record for first aid. On 26 January 2025, we will unite once again to fight childhood cancer!
The GOCC Foundation has successfully completed another significant purchase in support of pulmonology, the main focus of the 32nd Grand Finale. Between 30 September and 2 October, the Foundation held the 72nd Ope Tender, leading to the acquisition of vital medical equipment for hospitals across the country.
