Sightsavers CEO visits PBU office in Saudi Arabia

The Chief Executive officer of Sightsavers Dr Caroline Harper recently visited the Prevention of Blindness Union (PBU) office in Riyadh Saudi Arabia. Dr Harper was accompanied by Mr. Luke Thomas- the Sightsavers head of Middle East partnership. Dr Harper met with the PBU team lead by it s Chairman HRH Abdulaziz Ahmed Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Managing Director Dr Abdulaziz AlRajhi. The visit was to strengthen the bond of the new partnership between the two organizations. The organizations reviewed the progress of their partnership and areas of future collaboration. During the visit Dr Harper also formally invited the PBU to the 60th year celebration of Sightsavers at the Buckingham palace, UK taking place in June 2010.

Another PBU board member – Prof. Daud Khan wins International award

Prof. Mohammed Daud Khan - a PBU board member had been awarded: the International Duke Elder Medal Award. This award is given every four years by the Board of the International Council of Ophthalmology to an ophthalmologist who by his/her distinction, leadership and teaching has contributed most to the development of international relations and friendship between ophthalmologists, and who has advanced the field by his/her contributions in writing and organization in ophthalmology. Prof. Khan is the Chairman of CHEF foundation an International NGO based in Pakistan. CHEF foundation is founding partners of PBU. PBU hereby felicitates with Prof Khan on this most deserving award.

PBU Board Member, Dr. Adel Rushood awarded the GOH Naumann Award for Leadership and Global Eye Care

The International Council of Ophthalmology has recently awarded Dr. Adel Rushood with the GOH Naumann Award for Leadership and Global Eye Care. The GOH Naumann Award is awarded annually to an ophthalmologist who has made a significant contribution to global eye care in the community, in an effort to promote educational programs and establish service models for other societies.

Dr. Adel Rushood is the founder and Secretary General of AlBasar International Foundation, a non-profitable, non-political and International NGO established in 1990. AlBasar International runs 21 self sustainable eye hospitals in Asia and Africa.

AlBasar International Foundation is a founding partner of PBU, and Dr Rushood is a board member of PBU representing the foundation. PBU seizes this opportunity to congratulate Dr Rushood on this well deserved honor.

PBU board member - Dr. Ahmed TRABELSI awarded AAO International Blindness Prevention award

Dr. Ahmed Trabelsi, President of Nadi AlBassar , and a board member of PBU has been honored with the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO’s) International Blindness Prevention Award. The award is presented at the Academy's Annual Meeting each fall. The International Blindness Prevention Award, established in 1992, honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the prevention of blindness or restoration of sight worldwide. PBU would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr. Trabelsi on this great achievement.

PBU enters into partnership with Sightsavers International

The PBU had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the UK based international NGO- Sightsavers International (SSI). The MOU is for partnership and cooperation in supporting eye care programs in Africa. It will involve advocacy, fund-raising, policy dialogue, exchange of expertise and co-implementation of eye care activities. The MOU was signed during the recent IAPB board of Trustees meeting in Cairo on 17 March 2010. The Chairman of PBU HRH Abdulaziz Ahmed Al Saud signed on behalf of the union, while CEO SSI Caroline Harper signed on behalf of SSI.

The first project in this partnership will be conducted in collaboration with East Africa College of Ophthalmology (EACO) to upgrade training facilities and resources for residency training in ophthalmology at Muhimbili University of Health Sciences, Tanzania. This project fits into the strategic interest of PBU in strengthening the training of ophthalmology in Africa.

4^th PBU board meeting, Riyadh, March 1, 2010

The Prevention of Blindness Union held its fourth board meeting on 1 March 2010, at the Marriot Hotel Riyadh, K.S.A. It was Chaired by HRH Abdulaziz Ahmed Abdulaziz Al Saud, and attended by all founding partners. The board had a full agenda, it ratified decisions made in the previous meeting including the Strategic and Operational plans, proposed 5-year budget and activities for the first year of operation . The meeting also discussed collaborative and fundraising activities that the PBU intends to initiate and participate in. The board approved the newly designed logo, website and a quarterly electronic newsletter.

Diabetic retinopathy screening programme in Jordan

The Prevention of blindness Union (PBU) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health Jordan will be implementing a diabetic retinopathy screening programme in Northern Jordan.

The Project is one of the ‘Seeing is Believing’ (SiB) project of the Standard Chartered Bank, to which the bank is committing close to 1 million dollars over 5 years. The Ministry of Health Jordan with its good networks of health facilities and human resources is the implementing partner. The project plans to provide a comprehensive diabetic retinopathy care to all patients with Diabetic mellitus in the region. This will include health education, promotion, screening, treatment and rehabilitative services.

A PBU delegation had visited Jordan in January 2010 to assess resources for the project and seek commitment of the Jordanian government in this project. The delegation met with major stakeholders including the Jordanian Minister of Health.

3^rd PBU board meeting, Cairo, December 14, 2009

The third meeting of the PBU board was held on the 14 December, 2009 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Cairo, Egypt. The meeting was chaired by Professor Mohammed Daud Khan, Chairman of CHEF International, a founding partner of PBUnion. The meeting deliberated on the PBUnion strategic, operational plans and the budgets for 5 years. The meeting also considered the activities for the year 2010. Website and logo for the union were also reviewed during the meeting.

PBU strategic planning committee meeting held in Riyadh, June 18-19, 2009

To support, coordinate, collaborate and advocate activities in the field of comprehensive eye care (promotion, preventive, curative and rehabilitation) with all stakeholders (such as Governments, Non-Governmental Development Organizations (NGDO), regional and international organizations, professional bodies and institutions).

PBU held its 2^nd Board meeting in Riyadh, June 8, 2009

The second board meeting of PBU was held on 08 June, 2009 at Atheeb group headquarters, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was chaired by the Chairman of PBU HRH Abdulaziz Ahmed Al Saud. Most of the chief executives of the founding partners were present at the meeting while some participated via teleconference. The meeting deliberated on the recommendations of the VISION 2020 Africa meeting that was held in March in Bahrain, the Union’s articles of association, logo and registration. The board constituted strategic planning committee to develop a strategic plan for the Union.

PBU/MEACO host VISION 2020 Africa meeting in Bahrain, March, 2009

PBU and MEACO hosted a 2-day VISION 2020 Africa workshop during the MEACO bi-annual congress in Bahrain in March 2009. Major stakeholders in eye care from Africa participated in the workshop. These included WHO Geneva office, IAPB Afro regional office, major NGDOs, academic institutions, ophthalmologists, development and corporate organizations.

The Meeting titled "VISION 2020 in Africa – The Next 10 Years" deliberated and made recommendations for the PBU towards acceleration of VISION 2020 in the African continent. Participants worked in 5 groups to generate the recommendations. Read report of the meeting.

PBU board held its maiden meeting, March 8, 2009

The PBU board held its first meeting on 8 March, 2008 at King Fahad cultural centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The meeting was attended by all the founding partners namely IMPACT-EMR, AlNoor Foundation, Nadi AlBasar, CHEF International, AlBasar Foundation, AGFUND, IDB and Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO).

The meeting was chaired by HRH Prince Abdulaziz Ahmed Abdulaziz Al Saud, President, IMPACT-EMR. The meeting agreed on some fundamental aspects of the Union including the official name, official language, registration, strategies of operation etc..