Mega free-eye camp inaugurated in Mardan

PESHAWAR: A major free-eye camp was inaugurated at Sange Marmar area of Mardan district, where qualified ophthalmologists on the first day provided services to a large number of patients.

Director of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), Saudi Arabia, Turad Al-Mejel and Al-Basarat Eye Foundation Chairman Prof Dr Ziaul Islam inaugurated the camp which will continue till September 11.

People suffering from eye problems thronged the camp from different parts of the Mardan district and more than 400 patients were given free treatment as well as medicines.

Also, following examination of the patients, the ophthalmologists selected 60 patients for surgeries, which were done on the first day of the camp.

Patients attending the camp not only received thorough examinations, but were also provided with necessary treatment for various eye-related diseases, said an official, adding, during the first day of the camp 258 male and 129 female patients received free treatment.

“Senior doctors of Al-Ibrahim Eye Hospital Karachi are providing free consultations and surgical services to the patients,” he said, adding the camp was established on Friday but Director of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), Saudi Arabia, Turad Al-Mejel and Al-Basarat Eye Foundation Chairman Prof Dr Ziaul Islam formally inaugurated it on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, Turad Al-Mejel stated that the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is like two brothers.

“Saudi Arabia has always provided all kinds of support to Pakistan during difficult times. King Salman Relief Centre organises free eye and medical camps in various countries worldwide to provide free services to underprivileged and helpless people at their doorstep,” he added.

He said that this is the only free camp of its kind in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where patients were not only examined, but also provided with free medicines and modern technology is used for free surgeries.

Al-Basarat Eye Foundation Chairman Prof Dr Ziaul Islam said that due to the lack of timely diagnosis of eye diseases, the number of blind people was increasing day by day.

He also paid tribute to the management of King Salman Relief Centre and assured that they would fully support King Salman Relief Centre in such welfare activities.

He expressed gratitude to King Salman Relief Centre and Al-Ibrahim Eye Hospital, stating that 4,000 patients would be examined for free during the camp, and more than 400 surgeries would be performed. He added that the primary goal of the free eye camp was to identify and treat eye-related problems to prevent blindness and improve the quality of life of the patients.

Director Al-Ibrahim Eye Hospital Karachi Fakhruddin, District Health Officer Mardan Dr Javed Iqbal, Prof Dr Zia Mohammad, President Mardan Press Club Bashir Adil, Director Afghan Refugees Shafiqur Rahman and others were also present on the occasion.