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!
Last weekend we managed to complete a project that we have been working on together with the Polish community living in Scotland for several years. The GOCC Foundation has its own tartan! On Sunday, during a special visit to Scotland, Jerzy Owsiak received a brand new kilt.
Last week, a training course for candidates certified by the American Heart Association (AHA) and applying to become GOCC instructors took place at the Szadowo-Młyn GOCC Training Centre as part of the "CPR for Schools" educational program.
We wish you lots of strength, faith, and hope to day by day create a world of kindness, friendship, and mutual respect! May we all live in peace and love!
Almost 350m2 of the GOCC mural adorns the Bielany district! Designed by Jerzy Owsiak, the street wall art decorates the building at Marymoncka 155 in Warsaw.
