The IAPB-EMR held a regional meeting to assess the successes and challenges in the implementation of WHO Action plan 2009-2013 and regional recommendations on Diabetic Retinopathy, Glaucoma, School Eye Health and Primary eye care, at the national level.
The meeting was held from 20-21 November 2011 in Dubai. It was attended by most national coordinators for prevention of blindness in the region, EMR Co-Chairs, experts in public health ophthalmology and programme management. The meeting came up with achievable action points for the NCs, NGOs and IAPB to accelerate the implementation of VISION 2020 programs in the region. The meeting was organized by PBU and supported by the Islamic Development Bank and the IAPB.

The Primary eye care taskforce setup by WHO EMRO and IAPB-EMR had a 2 day workshop in Dubai to develop training manual and indicators for reporting and monitoring of eye health at primary health care. The meeting was held between 22-23 November 2011. Draft manual and indicators are at the final stage of development.

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) , the PBU and a number of NGOs and development agencies involved in eye care and prevention of blindness in the Middle East and Africa held a consultative e meeting in Dubai on the 19 November 2011. The meeting provided a forum for discussions and harmonization of priorities in the implementation of eye care and prevention of blindness activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and Africa regions.

The Human resource working group of the EMR had worked out modalities to strengthen human resources development for eye health in the region. These was at a meeting of the group which held on the 22 November 2011 in Dubai. Among the majors strategies was to undertake a region wide situational analysis of all HR and training institutions involved in eye health. Twining programs will be developed between institutions in the region, as well as Human resource interest groups at national levels.

 

The PBU and the Saudi National Prevention of Blindness committee in conjunction with Ministry of Health is conducting a second Rapid Assessment of avoidable blindness plus diabetic retinopathy pilot study in Jizan province, Southern part of Saudi Arabia. The survey is expected to be completed by the end of January 2012. It will provide more data for planning of eye care and diabetic retinopathy services in the province.
The first survey was conducted last year at the Taif region Western province of the Kingdom. The success of that survey in generating interest of the Ministry of health and other stakeholders made it possible to undertake the second study.

The Makkah Ophthalmic Technical College established 2007 had graduated the 2^nd batch of 43 Ophthalmic Assistants. The 3 year diploma programs cover 2 main fields Diploma of Ophthalmic Assistant (DOA) and Diploma of Ophthalmic Technologist (DOT) The diploma award ceremony was held on Saturday, 26^th November 2011 at Friendship Hall, Khartoum.

On 27 November 2011 in Khartoum Sudan, Al Basar International Foundation organized a workshop to review the global perspective in Vision 2020 for the next decade, and major achievements and challenges of Vision 2020 especially as it relates to Sudan. The workshop consisted of three sessions: inauguration, scientific session and Group Discussions. Speakers included Dr. R. Pararajasegaram, Prof. Daud Khan, Prof. Saleh Memon, Prof. Kadir Kazi, Prof. Adel ARushood, Dr. Babar Qureshi, Dr. Haroon Awan, Dr. Mansur Rabiu and Mr. Hassan Minto etc.

The Chairman of International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, Eastern Mediterranean Region (IAPB-EMR) Prince Abdulaziz Ahmad AlSaud addressed the EMR Ministers of health during the just concluded 58^th Regional meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) EMRO which held in Cairo from 2-5 October 2011.

The Chairman thanked the ministers for their continuous support to eye health and prevention of blindness. He further solicited for their cooperation in supporting reports on eye health in the forthcoming Executive Board meeting of the World Health Organization and the 65th World Health Assembly to be held in January and May 2012 respectively, during which progress report on the WHO Action plan for the prevention of Avoidable blindness 2009-2013 will be discussed.

 

The World Ophthalmology Congress 2012 (WOC) taking place from 16-20 February 2012 in Abu Dhabi UAE has organized a series of sessions to address topical issues on prevention of blindness and eye care. The sessions are titled ‘World Sight Forum’ (WSF). The sessions will have eminent speakers and discussants from wide arena of leaders in ophthalmology and allied field including public health experts, health administrators, policy makers, clinicians etc.

 

Some of the topics to be covered include:

• VISION 2020: What Next After the Year 2020?
• Novel Control Strategies for Diabetic Retinopathy.
• Can Trachoma be eliminated in the Next Decade: What Are the Challenges?.
• Public Health Control Strategies for Glaucoma: What Are the Prospects?.
• Pursuit of VISION 2020: Through the General Health System and Development Agenda.
• Can Onchocerciasis be eliminated in the Next Decade: What Are the Challenges?
• What are the Human Resources Development Challenges to Achieving VISION 2020 in Developing Countries?.
For more details on the WOC 2012 programs and registration visit: www.woc2012.org

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Minister of Health Dr Abdullatif Wreiket had commended the efforts of PBU in working to reduce avoidable blindness in the Middle East and Africa regions. The Minister made this remarks during the final signing ceremony for the Diabetic retinopathy program in Irbid Jordan. The program is a ‘Seeing is Believing’ programme of Standard Chartered Bank which will be implemented by PBU in collaboration with Jordan Ministry of Health. It will last for 4 years and will provide health promotion, education, screening, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with diabetic retinopathy. It also involves human resource development and equipment supply.
The signing ceremony was held on the 6 of October 2011 at Four seasons hotel, Amman. The PBU was represented by its Managing Director Dr Abdulaziz AlRajhi while Standard chartered bank was by Mr Ahmed Abu Eidad the CEO of the SCB Amman.

 

Mr. Sohail Ayaz Khan has been appointed as the Project manager for the Diabetic retinopathy program in Jordan. He was the deputy CEO programs for CHEF International- one of our partner NGOs and he is seconded by this organization to the Prevention of Blindness Union. CHEF international is an international NGO involved with eye care, education and disabilities in many countries.

Mr. Khan has wide international experience in strategic planning programming and management especially in the field of eye care and prevention of blindness. He has Masters in Business administration with major in human resources, and Masters in information technology .  

The International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) will hold its 9^th General Assembly meeting from 17-20 September 2012 at the Hyderabad International Convention Center in India. The theme of the meeting is Eye Health: Everyone’s Business – Make it yours today!

The abstract submission is now available online. Submitted abstracts should focus on any of the following topics:
  • Social entrepreneur and eye care
  • Health systems strengthening
  • Neglected tropical diseases and non-communicable diseases
  • Advocacy for eye health
  • Human resource development
  • Eye care management issues
  • Primary eye care
  • Technology in eye care
The deadline for online abstract submission is 01 March 2012.

The early bird registration is also available online. For further details, please visit the IAPB meeting’s website at www.9ga.iapb.org 

 

The IAPB EMR will be organizing a regional meeting to assess the successes, challenges, and learning’s in the implementation of World Health Assembly resolutions (specifically the ‘Action plan 2009 - 2013 for prevention of avoidable blindness and visual impairment) and the regional recommendations on the control of Glaucoma, Diabetic retinopathy, School eye health and primary eye care at National level.

The meeting which is sponsored by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) will be held from 20-21 November 2011 in Dubai, UAE .

All national coordinators for the prevention of blindness in the EMR, NGDOs and experts in public health ophthalmology will be attending the meeting.

 

The WHO EMRO in collaboration with the IAPB EMR had commenced implementation of the recommendations of the regional PEC workshop held earlier in the year in Dubai.

Towards this task forces have been established to develop training resource for the training of PHC workers in eye health and also develop monitoring tools and data collection forms for eye health. The taskforces are expected to complete their tasks in the last quarter of this year.

 

IAPB - EMR was invited to participate in the meeting of the Primary Eye Care working Group of the IAPB in order to learn and share experiences. The meeting was held in Dubai from 15 -16 September 2011 immediately after the IAPB council meeting. The meeting resolved to improve communication, linkages, coordination and information between IAPB regional groups and other PEC and primary health care (PHC) groups

 

Al Noor foundation, Egypt in collaboration with CBM is establishing the Egypt Institute for Community ophthalmology in Cairo. The Institute will provide short and long academic courses in Community Ophthalmology, Management for eye care and Training for Ophthalmic Technicians. A new facility has been prepared within Alnoor complex in Cairo to harbor the Institute. Studying is expected to start in 2011 with candidates from Egypt and Middle East Region. For more details, please contact Dr. Gamal Ezz El Arab at arab@alnoor.org.eg.

 

The CHEF international had established the Pakistani Institute of rehabilitation Sciences in Islamabad, Pakistan. The institute which will commence operation in the last quarter of 2011 will provide short courses and degree programs in all fields of disabilities including vision. For more information, please send an email to info@chef.org.pk.

 

AlBasar International foundation had started vitreo-retinal services at its Makkah eye hospital in Kano, northern Nigeria. Hitherfore this area lacks full vitreo-retinal services. The services introduced includes pars-plana vitrectomy , lensectomy and phaco surgeries with or without silicon or gases. The services are been provided by highly qualified surgeons. Other supportive procedures available include argon laser photocoagulation, fluorescein angiography and fundus photography.

The services at the center as other ophthalmic services are highly subsidized to make them affordable. For more information send email to azmatshah68@yahoo.com