BluOr Bank Donation to Children's Hospital

The Children's Clinical University Hospital (Children's Hospital) now offers eye examinations using state-of-the-art electrophysiology equipment. This technology was acquired thanks to a €130,500 donation from BluOr Bank. The majority of the donation -nearly €80,000 - was allocated for the purchase of the eye electrophysiology device, which has been available to young patients since October at the Children's Hospital's Eye Disease Clinic, located in the newly opened Ambulatory Health Center.

The Eye Disease Clinic specializes in the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of complex ophthalmological conditions. Eye electrophysiological examinations are crucial for the early diagnosis of vision problems in children. The new equipment and software enable examinations for children as young as infants and preschoolers, significantly speeding up and improving the process compared to the previous equipment, which was slower and less suitable for young children.
With a referral from an ophthalmologist, these examinations will be available for children with challenges in vision fixation, severe neurological disorders, visual impairments, and unexplained vision defects that were previously difficult to diagnose. The new equipment allows for more precise identification of vision issues, which is particularly important for diagnosing genetic diseases, according to the ophthalmologists and optometrists at the Children's Hospital's Eye Disease Clinic.

Before acquiring the new equipment, the hospital used electrophysiology equipment that was technologically outdated and suited only for examinations of older children, starting from 6-7 years old. The new "Espion Diagnosys" device offers significantly improved functionality thanks to specially designed software. It allows for much faster examinations without anesthesia, using child-friendly electrodes and without the need for pupil dilation. Simultaneously, multiple examination curves can be recorded, which helps diagnose potential conditions or indicate necessary further tests at an early stage.

With the new equipment, the Children's Hospital Eye Disease Clinic plans to examine approximately 200-250 children annually, significantly improving the availability and accuracy of diagnostics. In collaboration with Stradiņa Hospital, a patient registry will be developed and expanded for individuals suffering from rare eye conditions, such as congenital retinal dystrophies. Disease progression will be monitored, and various test results, including electrophysiological examinations that evaluate the functioning of the eyes and optic nerves, will be compared with genetic testing outcomes.

“We hope to increase the number of these examinations, gain more experience in researching rare diseases, and collaborate with other specialists in Latvia and abroad. This will help improve patient access to diagnostics and deepen our understanding of these rare conditions, as well as participate in international studies,” emphasized Sanda Valeiņa, head of the Children's Hospital Eye Disease Clinic.

In addition to the new eye examination device, part of the BluOr Bank donation - €20,000 - was allocated for the purchase of a functional rehabilitation device for intensive care patients. This therapy device helps mobilize patients who have been bedridden for extended periods following surgeries or severe accidents, accelerating recovery and reducing the risk of complications. The remaining donation amount was used to purchase a defibrillator and improve the parents' rest areas in the Neonatal Intensive Care and Neonatology Clinic, creating a more comfortable environment for families whose children are receiving treatment.

“This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Children's Hospital. 125 years ago, it was the donation from entrepreneur James Armitstead that helped establish this hospital. Nothing has changed over the years, and even today, donor contributions to children's health remain very important. Therefore, we at the Children's Hospital Foundation and the Children's Clinical University Hospital are immensely grateful to BluOr Bank for the donation and the significant contribution to the health of Latvian children,” said Liene Dambiņa, head of the Children's Hospital Foundation, regarding the donation.

The donation to the Children's Hospital is part of BluOr Bank's broader corporate social responsibility strategy. A significant portion of the bank's charitable initiatives is also carried out through the BeOpen charity foundation established and supported by the bank, which primarily helps children with special needs. BluOr Bank's first donations to the Children's Hospital date back to 2015-2016 when the first playrooms were set up in the Oncology Department and the hospital's Polyclinic building.

Images: Liene Dambiņa, head of the Children's Hospital Foundation, Dmitrijs Latiševs, Chairman of the Board of BluOr Bank, and hospital staff during a visit to the Children's Hospital to view the new equipment.