The Noor Dubai Foundation has recently concluded its therapeutic mobile eye camp to prevent blindness in Kenana - White Nile state in the Republic of Sudan. This is the Foundation's second mobile eye camp in Sudan and third camp for the current year.

The camp was supported by Dubai Islamic Humanitarian Foundation. Noor Dubai Foundation provided diagnostic and therapeutic eye services to 4,920 patients, performed 307 surgeries and distributed 1,800 eyeglasses to those in need.

Sudan has a population of over 37 million. According to 2003 statistics, approximately 1.5% of the population suffers from blindness. The primary causes are cataract, glaucoma, trachoma, and onchocerciasis.

Humaid Al Qatami Chairman of the Noor Dubai Foundation, said, "The Foundation seeks to reach out to all of those in need around the world and provide free eye treatment."

Al Qatami also praised local organisations in UAE and the local ministries and entities in Sudan for their cooperation. He also praised the UAE Embassy in The republic of Sudan and the efforts of Hamad Mohammed Humaid Al Junaibi, UAE Ambassador to Sudan.

Dr. Manal Omran Taryam, Board member and Chief Executive Officer of Noor Dubai Foundation, said: "The camp was held in Kenana Sugar Company Hospital in Kenana City, which is located 300km from Khartoum. The estimated number of the region's population is about 1.8 million individuals with only three ophthalmologists available to cover the entire population of this region. Additionally, there are no specialised eye hospitals in the region; the nearest one is in Khartoum, the capital, which is about 300 kilometres away. This emphasises the difficulty of getting proper eyes healthcare services and the importance of having our mobile eye camp in Kenana."

Dr. Taryam also stated that the camp consisted of ophthalmologists and optometrists. So far, the Foundation has reached out to more than 23 million individuals and is targeting to reach 30 million individuals around the world by 2025.
Source: WAM