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QNA
Doha
THE Qatar Fund for Development’s (QFFD) eye health initiative has exceeded targets and brought clear vision to millions of children in India and Bangladesh. Children in both countries underwent eye screenings and treatments while community leaders received training through the initiative.
The QFFD announced on Sunday that over 6.5 million eye tests were conducted and treatments provided to children across India and Bangladesh through the Qatar Creating Vision initiative, a million more than the original target.
Qatar Creating Vision, funded by QFFD and led by international blindness prevention charity Orbis, is an eye health initiative that works to reduce childhood blindness in India and Bangladesh, with the first phase of programmes due to finish this year. The initiative has
achieved its goals ahead of schedule, helping hundreds of thousands of children to see clearly again.
Through the establishment of a far-reaching school eye screening programme, Orbis and their partners were able to find children struggling with their sight, thanks to QFFD’s support. Qatar Creating Vision projects have also focused on developing skills within communities and over 80,000 teachers, students as well as religious leaders have been trained to date to spot the first signs of vision loss since 2016.
QFFD’s Director General Khalifa bin Jassim al Kuwari said: “Despite the difficult circumstances we all face due to coronavirus (COVID-19), the fund continues to support humanitarian causes around the world, both related to the pandemic and other areas of need.
“We’re delighted that we have been able to support Qatar Creating Vision initiative and reach even more people than originally planned with our strategic partner Orbis. Sometimes a simple pair of glasses or a short operation is all it takes to help a child get the most out of their education, or enable an adult to support their families. The initiative has provided opportunities for people to seek the treatment they deserve.”
For her part the CEO of Orbis UK, Rebecca Cronin commented: “We are proud of our partnership with the Qatar Fund for Development. Their commitment to providing the necessary funding to deliver eye care to those in need, has helped us to reach out to millions of children, including those facing the imminent threat of vision loss, well in time. Our expansion into the camps in South East Bangladesh has resulted in services being offered to some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Many have never had access to eye care before.”
India and Bangladesh have some of the highest childhood blindness numbers in the world. With 80 percent of a children’s learning processed through their vision, a lack of sight can mean a lack of education and missed opportunities.
In 2018, thanks to QFFD, Orbis expanded Qatar Creating Vision to provide services to children and adults struggling with sight loss within the Rohingya and local host community in South East Bangladesh. Demand for services has been extremely high. In the first three months of this year alone, of the 22,000 who were screened for eye conditions, almost half required some form of treatment, including surgery, glasses or antibiotics.
Doha
THE Qatar Fund for Development’s (QFFD) eye health initiative has exceeded targets and brought clear vision to millions of children in India and Bangladesh. Children in both countries underwent eye screenings and treatments while community leaders received training through the initiative.
The QFFD announced on Sunday that over 6.5 million eye tests were conducted and treatments provided to children across India and Bangladesh through the Qatar Creating Vision initiative, a million more than the original target.
Qatar Creating Vision, funded by QFFD and led by international blindness prevention charity Orbis, is an eye health initiative that works to reduce childhood blindness in India and Bangladesh, with the first phase of programmes due to finish this year. The initiative has
achieved its goals ahead of schedule, helping hundreds of thousands of children to see clearly again.
Through the establishment of a far-reaching school eye screening programme, Orbis and their partners were able to find children struggling with their sight, thanks to QFFD’s support. Qatar Creating Vision projects have also focused on developing skills within communities and over 80,000 teachers, students as well as religious leaders have been trained to date to spot the first signs of vision loss since 2016.
QFFD’s Director General Khalifa bin Jassim al Kuwari said: “Despite the difficult circumstances we all face due to coronavirus (COVID-19), the fund continues to support humanitarian causes around the world, both related to the pandemic and other areas of need.
“We’re delighted that we have been able to support Qatar Creating Vision initiative and reach even more people than originally planned with our strategic partner Orbis. Sometimes a simple pair of glasses or a short operation is all it takes to help a child get the most out of their education, or enable an adult to support their families. The initiative has provided opportunities for people to seek the treatment they deserve.”
For her part the CEO of Orbis UK, Rebecca Cronin commented: “We are proud of our partnership with the Qatar Fund for Development. Their commitment to providing the necessary funding to deliver eye care to those in need, has helped us to reach out to millions of children, including those facing the imminent threat of vision loss, well in time. Our expansion into the camps in South East Bangladesh has resulted in services being offered to some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Many have never had access to eye care before.”
India and Bangladesh have some of the highest childhood blindness numbers in the world. With 80 percent of a children’s learning processed through their vision, a lack of sight can mean a lack of education and missed opportunities.
In 2018, thanks to QFFD, Orbis expanded Qatar Creating Vision to provide services to children and adults struggling with sight loss within the Rohingya and local host community in South East Bangladesh. Demand for services has been extremely high. In the first three months of this year alone, of the 22,000 who were screened for eye conditions, almost half required some form of treatment, including surgery, glasses or antibiotics.
