Fighting visual impairment

Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Noor Dubai Foundation signed a MoU on Thursday to benefit UAE residents in need, who are suffering from critical eye diseases or chronic diseases that may lead to visual impairment. 

The MoU was signed on World Sight Day, which falls on October 11 every year. Dr Manal Taryam, the CEO and Board member of Noor Dubai Foundation and Salim Bin Lahej, Director of the Moussadah (help) committee and Head of the Healthcare Fund Office at the DHA signed the MoU at the DHA headquarters in Dubai in the presence of H.E Humaid Al Qutami, Director General of the DHA.

The MoU was signed to support the foundation in providing treatment to UAE Residents with limited means who are suffering from critical eye diseases or chronic diseases that may lead to visual impairment. It also aims to prevent the spread of diseases that cause blindness and educate the public about the causes of preventable blindness and how to avoid them.

In the UAE, Noor Dubai Foundation has treated 201 cases since 2016 and provided treatment worth Dh1.76 million, out of which 54 cases received treatment worth Dh275,200 in 2016, 76 cases received treatment worth Dh822,859 in 2017 and 71 cases received treatment worth Dh656,759 in 2018. 

Commenting on the MoU, H.E Al Qutami said the DHA is pleased to sign such a MoU that benefits those in need of critical eye treatment in the UAE.
 
He added that the DHA is keen to collaborate with Noor Dubai to reinforce humanitarian work, especially to reduce the burden of those at risk of going blind and to help alleviate their suffering. 

Meanwhile, Dr Taryam said, “Noor Dubai is known for the international aid it provides to those suffering from critical eye diseases. This MoU, however, focuses on reinforcing the foundation’s programmes in the UAE and providing treatment to UAE residents in need, who are suffering from critical eye diseases and chronic diseases that may lead to visual impairment. 

“Those eligible for treatment must be UAE residents who have limited means and suffer from any critical eye disease or chronic disease that can cause blindness. 

“As part of the MoU, DHA will provide consultation and treatment in its facilities while Noor Dubai will provide the funding.”

As a member of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives foundation, Noor Dubai Foundation aims to fulfil the objective of the Vision 2020 initiative of a world free from preventable forms of blindness.

Among the foundation’s national programmes is the award-winning Mobile Clinic outreach programme in the UAE, which succeeded in providing free vision screening to over 8,000 individuals in 2017.