Dubai: The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Noor Dubai Foundation on Thursday signed an MoU that will benefit needy UAE residents suffering from critical eye diseases or chronic diseases that may lead to visual impairment such as diabetic retinopathy.
Signed on World Sight Day, which falls on October 11, the MoU 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 patients since 2016 and provided treatment worth Dh1.76 million, out of which 54 patients received treatment worth Dh275,200 in 2016, 76 received treatment worth Dh822,859 in 2017 and 71 patients received treatment worth Dh656,759 in 2018.
Humaid Al Qutami, director general of the DHA said, the DHA is pleased to sign such an MoU that benefits those in need of critical eye treatment in the UAE. “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,” he said.
Dr Manal Taryam, CEO and board member of Noor Dubai Foundation, said Noor Dubai is known for the international aid it provides to those suffering from critical eye diseases.
“Those eligible for treatment must be UAE residents who are in need 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,” she said.
Since its inception in 2008, Noor Dubai Foundation has provided more than 27 million individuals from all over Africa and Asia with free treatment and preventive programmes (which includes provision of surgeries, eyeglasses and medication).
As a member of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and the Mohammad 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.
Internationally, the foundation has provided preventive and treatment services via its mobile eye camps. Since the launch of the camp in 2008, the foundation has screened 257,338 individuals and provided 25,954 surgeries and 60,111 glasses to those living in remote areas with minimal access to primary health care facilities.
