|
|
Tuesday, 5 December
2017 | ArabMedicare.com | Staff Reporter |
|
|
|
|
|
The Fred Hollows
Foundation aims to reduce
blindness in the Middle East
with new Dubai hub
(Dubai) -
The Fred
Hollows Foundation, an
international development
organization that works to
eliminate avoidable
blindness in more than 25
countries around the world,
has announced the opening of
a new regional office in
International Humanitarian
City (IHC), Dubai.
The Honourable John Brumby
AO, Chairman of The
Foundation, made the
announcement with CEO of
International Humanitarian
City, Giuseppe Saba.
"This new regional base in
IHC will help accelerate our
efforts to treat some of the
millions in this region who
are needlessly blind," said
Mr Brumby.
According to the
International Association
for the Prevention of
Blindness (IAPB) there are
15 million people in Middle
East and South Asia who are
blind. Four out of five of
these people can easily be
treated but they don’t have
access to eye health care as
they live in poverty and
cannot afford the cost of
travel or treatment.
"Though we have already
restored sight to almost
half a million people in
South Asia and the Middle
East, and two million
globally, we are determined
to do more," said Mr Brumby.
"In 2018 in South Asia and
the Middle East alone, The
Foundation plans to screen
more than 1 million people;
provide more than 70,000
cataract surgeries; and
train more than 11,000
doctors, nurses, community
health workers and teachers.
Having a base in the IHC
will help us in these
efforts."
During the past 13 years,
the Foundation has already
provided eye health training
for more than 1,000 local
doctors, nurses and
community health workers as
well as sight saving
surgery, medicines and vital
equipment in countries such
as Nepal, Bangladesh,
Pakistan, Afghanistan,
Myanmar and Palestine.
CEO of IHC, Giuseppe Saba,
welcomed The Foundation to
the Dubai’s International
Humanitarian City free zone.
"We now have
over 50 international
members installed in their
offices in IHC. It is clear
we are attracting world
class non-profits such as
the esteemed Fred Hollows
Foundation."
According to IAPB there are
3.47 million people who
suffer from blindness in the
Middle East and 11.76
million in South Asia.
Additionally, 79 million
suffer from sever vision
impairment. Both conditions
can hinder quality of life,
employment opportunities and
freedom of movement.
Related Link:
The Fred
Hollows Foundation
PRINT
THIS ARTICLE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|