https://arab.news/mtgz3
- Over 2 million Filipinos are affected by some form of visual impairment
- Some areas in the Philippines lack access to good eye care services
Manila: A UAE-based charity foundation organized free eye treatment initiatives in one of the Philippines’ largest islands, as it seeks to support the local community and improve accessibility to quality eye care.
More than 2 million Filipinos are affected by some form of visual impairment, including over 1 million people who are affected by cataracts.
Noor Dubai Foundation, which focuses on the global prevention of blindness and visual impairment, set up specialized caravans in Samar Island in November and February, where doctors carried out various eye care services, including hundreds of cataract surgeries.
“Over 1,969 persons benefited through the program’s activities, which included screening and providing diagnosis and eye care,” the UAE Embassy in Manila said in a statement.
Under the program, doctors conducted 586 cataract surgeries and distributed 454 spectacles and medicines. The initiatives were launched in the provinces of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar, the latter of which concluded on Feb. 22.
Dr. Manal Taryam, CEO of the Noor Dubai Foundation, said that around 441,000 people in the Philippines are still awaiting cataract surgeries.
She said the numbers are concerning, as not only are there a limited number of ophthalmologists in Samar Island, but cataract surgeries are also expensive. It is estimated that such a procedure costs between $1,000 and $1,700, while the daily average income for residents is not more than $6.
“For these reasons, we at the Noor Dubai Foundation were keen on conducting several outreach programs to support the community and improve accessibility to good-quality eye care,” Dr. Taryam said in a statement.
Mohammed Obaid Al-Qataam Al-Zaabi also thanked the Philippine government for its “great cooperation” in the program.
“The UAE has been maintaining strong friendship ties with the Republic of the Philippines, especially in the medical field. The embassy expresses its gratitude to Noor Dubai Foundation for their great efforts and sustainable charitable program,” he said.