CHRIS Hani Baragwanath Hospital received a new camera that will improve the treatment of
diabetes patients.
The camera was handed over on Thursday to the hospital in Soweto, Joburg.
The department of health partnered with leading healthcare company Novo Nordisk to make the donation.
The company has been specialising in diabetes treatment for more than 90 years.
The camera is the first of its kind in Gauteng and the second in the country.
It can spot nerve damage in the eyes earlier than other tests.
Since the donation was made, 30 diabetes patients have been tested successfully.
Dr Bruno Pauly, a specialist at the hospital’s diabetes and endocrinology centre, said: “Diabetes affects all organs.
“The camera will help prevent blindness in diabetics.
“It will also help them manage their condition properly by screening for complications and treating them immediately.”
The camera, which costs R700 000, can also detect kidney failure.
Dr Sindeep Bhana, head of endocrinology at the hospital, said: “The impact such machines have on the lives of the millions of people who do not have medical aid is tremendous.
“It allows us, a government
facility, to use advanced equipment and provide world-class services to those who would otherwise not have access to such machinery.”
Dr Timmy Kedijang, deputy president and general manager at Novo Nordisk, told the People’s Paper: “The road ahead is still long.
“But we strive to find better treatment for those suffering from diabetes.”