UAE | Health
Thousands ask Noor Dubai to help restore eyesight
Thousands in and near the Middle East, mostly children, have applied to a Dubai fund to restore their eyesight while hundreds are being helped, within a week of its launch.
- By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
- Published: 17:30 September 11, 2008
Dubai: Thousands in and near the Middle East, mostly children, have applied to a Dubai fund to restore their eyesight while hundreds are being helped, within a week of its launch.
Noor Dubai, launched on September 3, aims to provide 1 million children and adults suffering from visual problems with eyecare and treatment.
It is the latest charitable initiative by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. Noor means light in Arabic.
Dr. Manal Taryam, president of the medical team for Noor Dubai, told Gulf News 90 percent of the thousands who have sought their help were children.
"We're targeting them. It's very important to preserve their eyesight before they're older. We're still helping adults, but it's better to prevent permanent damage before it starts," she said.
She said most of the visual problems the initiative was dealing with, among children and adults, comprised squint problems, in which eyes were misaligned, cataracts, glaucoma and retinal diseases. The project also has plans to deal with blindness-causing infectious diseases and begin corneal transplants next year.
On average, Noor Dubai doctors from the UAE and elsewhere have seen 40 patients daily since its launch. The patients are from Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Noor Dubai is taking care of all medical and living expenses of the patients and their escorts while seeking treatment in Dubai.
"We're also flying in doctors (from their hometown) because it is important to provide follow-up eye care for the patients when they go home," Dr. Manal said.
Noor Dubai works with two charitable eye organisations Lions Club International and ORBIS International.
Peter Lynch, executive administrator of Lions Club International, told Gulf News the organisation was identifying patients for Noor Dubai.
"We've identified more than 100 patients, including 43 from Mali in Africa, and others from Iraq, Pakistan and Bangladesh," he said.
"We already have hospitals in some of the countries (in Africa and Asia) and any case that cannot be operated locally, we bring them to Dubai," he added.
He said dozens are already receiving treatment while the rest will be arriving within a month.
The educational phase of Noor Dubai was launched last night.
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