title: Preventing diabetic blindness: a priority for South Africa.
abstract: The prevalence of diabetes in South Africa is increasing rapidly, and diabetes is a significant cause of blindness. Diabetic complications can induce a cycle of poverty for affected families. Early detection of retinopathy and appropriate management can prevent blindness. Screening for retinopathy using a mobile retinal camera is highly cost-effective, with costs of screening and follow-up treatment being less than the expense of one year of a disability grant. Such a programme is a prime example of a 'best buy' that should be part of the national diabetes care package.
authors.affiliation: PRICELESS SA (Priority Cost Eective Lessons for Systems Strengthening), Medical Research Council/Wits Rural Public Health Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Karen.Hofman@wits.ac.za.
authors.forename: Karen Joanne
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Levitt
mesh_terms: D001766:Blindness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008952:Mobile Health Units / Q000191:economics*; D015995:Prevalence; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D015351:Vision Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration