Tue Nov 18 09:22:55 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text, summarizing and highlighting the key information:
Headline: India’s KIDROP Initiative Combatting Childhood Blindness Reaches National Scale, Unveils AI-Powered Screening Device
Bengaluru, November 18, 2025 – The Karnataka Internet Assisted Diagnosis for Retinopathy of Prematurity (KIDROP) program, a pioneering public-private partnership aimed at preventing blindness in premature infants, has expanded its reach across India, doctors from Narayana Nethralaya announced on World Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Day, November 17th. Launched in 2008 in collaboration with the Karnataka government, KIDROP has grown into one of the largest tele-ROP networks in the nation, providing critical screening and treatment for infants at risk of ROP, a major cause of childhood blindness.
The program now encompasses all government district Neonatal ICUs (NICUs) in Karnataka and operates across 190 public and private NICUs nationally. To date, KIDROP has conducted nearly 400,000 screening sessions, examining almost 120,000 infants, and treated over 6,650 babies, preventing irreversible blindness in thousands of families. Training efforts target ophthalmologists, optometrists, physicians and technicians and have enabled ROP services in more than 300 hospitals in various States.
A major highlight of the program’s progress is the unveiling of the Neubo 130, India’s first AI-enabled ROP imaging device. Developed in collaboration with Remidio Innovative Solutions and with support from the Department of Biotechnology, the Neubo 130 utilizes an AI model based on KIDROP’s extensive image database to automatically detect and grade ROP. This innovation addresses the need for affordable and accessible screening technology, particularly in low-resource settings.
“Through the strong partnership between government NICUs, private expertise, and NGO support, KIDROP has set a benchmark in neonatal eye care,” said Dr. Naren Shetty, hospital director. Dr. Anand Vinekar, founder-programme director of KIDROP, added that Karnataka is the only region with universal ROP coverage, and the AI-enabled Neubo 130 can significantly advance India’s approach to ROP management.
The Neubo 130, featuring a 130-degree field of view, through-the-lens illumination, offline edge AI for real-time diagnosis, and the ability to capture images through small pupils, is poised to revolutionize mass neonatal screening. The program’s long-term vision is to expand this model nationwide, ensuring that every newborn receives timely eye screening and the chance for a sighted future.
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