UAE authority launches campaign against blindness in Tanzania

Tanzania: An eye care campaign was launched on Sunday at the Tanzanian island of Bamba by the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA).

Doctors have started to examine more than 100 patients, suffering from cataract, glaucoma and squint, Ahmad Abdullah Al Ali, head of the RCA, said.

The campaign - which also includes surgical, curative, preventive and educational programmes - will last for more than a week on the far-flung pacific ocean, he said while addressing a ceremony that was attended by senior local health officials.

He said the focus of the team will be on visually-impaired children.

Representative of Dr Maywa Daftar, Tanzanian government, appreciated the RCA's humanitarian efforts to fight blindness in her country.

The RCA campaign will give a big boost to the national anti-blindness programme and human resources development as such efforts will improve healthcare, she said.

She said the RCA is the first foreign humanitarian agency to offer medical assistance to the poor population of Bamba.