Abu Dhabi eye hospital sends sight-saving aid package to Gaza
Thousands of patients awaiting sight-saving surgery in Gaza could be in line for urgent eye care with the latest humanitarian aid drop due to arrive from the UAE. Supplies of ophthalmic medicine, consumables and diagnostic equipment worth about $1 million are intended for 5,000 patients on waiting lists for preventable blindness. Theses are due to arrive in the enclave this week from the Bascom…
A humanitarian aid package containing ophthalmic medicine, supplies, and diagnostic equipment worth approximately $1 million is set to reach Gaza, potentially aiding thousands of patients awaiting eye care. This delivery, originating from the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Abu Dhabi, is made possible by the Emirates Red Crescent group.
The supplies will be transported to St John Eye Hospital in Gaza, where patients have been on waiting lists for sight-saving treatments for over six months due to a lack of necessary resources.
Dr Ahmad Maali, chief executive of St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group, expressed gratitude to the UAE and Emirates Red Crescent for their support in providing these essential medical supplies to the at-risk patients. He emphasized that every delivery reaching Gaza contributes to the continued care the hospital staff strives to provide, irrespective of patients' ethnicity, religion, or financial situation.
Ophthalmic care is particularly challenging to address during crises, as it demands specialized medicine, consumables, and diagnostic equipment that are not easily substituted. The recent UAE aid shipment addresses this critical need, particularly for over 2,000 patients with diabetes who require urgent retinal laser treatment to prevent permanent vision loss. The supplies include 10 boxes of surgical sutures, 600 boxes of gauze, and 600 surgical gowns.
Dr Zain Kenderian, chief executive of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Abu Dhabi, highlighted that the Emirates Red Crescent offers a dependable and effective means of delivering specialized ophthalmic supplies to those in need in Gaza. Many patients lose their sight simply because they cannot be reached in time, and in most cases, blindness is preventable with proper medical intervention, such as medication, laser treatment, or a functioning diagnostic machine.
Dr Kenderian stressed that the supplies are ready; the key now is ensuring they reach the Gaza clinicians who are eagerly awaiting their use.
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