November 5, 2014
National figures show that Indigenous people over the age of 40 who are suffering from diabtes currently have six times the rate of blindness and vision impairment compared to non-Indigenous people.
However, 94 per cent of vision loss in Indigenous Australians is preventable or treatable.
A community open day was held at Cherbourg’s Barambah Health Centre on Monday to showcase a new service which aims to reduce this alarming disparity in health outcomes.
Minister for Health Lawrence Springborg launched the project in December 2013 when Queensland Health provided $5 million to Diamond Jubilee Partnerships Ltd for the the Indigenous Diabetes Eyes and Screening (IDEAS) Initiative.
The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) is a major partner.
IDEAS now provides education, equipment, specialist clinical treatment and support to 27 Aboriginal Medical Services in Queensland.
Monday’s visit was the first time the mobile treatment van has been to Cherbourg.
The Barambah Health Centre said IDEAS provided a world class, mobile visiting facility offering access to specialist services, but did so in a culturally appropriate way within a familiar setting.
They hoped this week’s visit – and future visits – will help close the blindness gap in the South Burnett.
- Additional information: The IDEAS Initiative (800kb PDF)
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