Abu Dhabi eye hospital sends sight-saving aid package to Gaza

A humanitarian aid shipment containing ophthalmic medicine, consumables, and diagnostic equipment, valued at approximately $1 million, is set to arrive in Gaza this week. The supplies, expected to benefit around 5,000 patients on waiting lists for preventable blindness, are being transported from the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Abu Dhabi to St John Eye Hospital in Gaza through the Emirates Red Crescent group.

For over six months, medical teams in Gaza have been operating with insufficient resources to treat thousands of patients at risk of losing their sight. Dr Ahmad Maali, chief executive of St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group, expressed gratitude to the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Abu Dhabi and the Emirates Red Crescent for their assistance in delivering these essential medical supplies.

He emphasized that every delivery reaching Gaza contributes to restoring the care that hospital staff are committed to providing, irrespective of a patient's ethnicity, religion, or ability to pay.

Ophthalmic care remains a significant challenge during crises due to the specific nature of required medicine, consumables, and diagnostic equipment. The latest UAE aid package addresses this gap by providing specialized medical supplies to patients in Gaza. Over 2,000 diabetes patients require urgent retinal laser treatment to prevent permanent vision loss, as high blood sugar damages tiny blood vessels at the back of the eye.

The Emirates Red Crescent has established a trusted and effective route to deliver specialist ophthalmic supplies to those most in need in Gaza. Dr Zain Kenderian, chief executive of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Abu Dhabi, highlighted the importance of this aid in preventing blindness, which is often avoidable with proper medical intervention. Dr Kenderian stressed that the supplies are ready for use, and the critical task now is to ensure they reach the healthcare professionals in Gaza who are eagerly awaiting them.