The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy in Nigeria has embarked on a 4-year Eye Treatment programme for seven million people in Katsina state and neighbouring states.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by Dr Fahad AL-Taffaq, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Nigeria.
AL-Taffaq said that a UAE-based non-governmental charity organisation, Noor Dubai Foundation, under the Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives, launched the Eye Care Programme in Katsina to conduct screening and treat eye-related ailments.
According to him, this will support the “Vision 2020” global initiative on prevention of blindness and the National Eye Health Programme in Nigeria.
“It is a four-year programme that will provide sustainable, preventative, and curative eye care services for the people of Katsina and its environs, as well as improve the quality of lives of the people.”
“The aim is to support the Federal government in eradicating the main causes of all preventable and treatable blindness as a public health issue in Nigeria.
“Since the commencement of the four-year programme in October 2019, 235 cataract surgeries have been conducted, 1,235 screening and treatments carried out.
“The recruitment of four specialist eye doctors was done within the same period.
“The programme which aims to cater to 7. 8 million people will equip more than 250 healthcare centres with necessary eye-care instruments,” he said.
He said that Noor Dubai Foundation had established an eye treatment camp in Daura, Katsina as part of activities lined up to commemorate the 48th UAE National day in Nigeria.
“The camp is part of the comprehensive eye care programme that was launched under the patronage of the Wife of the President of Nigeria, Dr Aisha Muhammadu Buhari in July 2019.
“The programme will provide sustainable eye care services by partnering with the Ministry of Health in Katsina State and other international NGOs actively involved in providing eye care services.
“Noor Dubai and its partners will implement a budget of $2 million which is projected to provide a socio-economic yield of $8 million in increased productivity,” Taryam said.
He, however, said that the eye care services would not be limited to tackling the causes of visual loss, such as cataract, glaucoma, refractive error, and low vision, but would extend to the rehabilitation of a school of eye health. 

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