NGOs Of Australia, Italy To Cooperate In Eye Healthcare Programme

A joint delegation of two NGOs named as Fred Hollow Foundation of Australia and CBM Italy called on the Provincial Minister Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education Khawaja Salman Rafique and Minister for Primary & Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir in their offices separately, here on Thursday.

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Mar, 2018 ) :A joint delegation of two NGOs named as Fred Hollow Foundation of Australia and CBM Italy called on the Provincial Minister Specialized Healthcare & Medical education Khawaja Salman Rafique and Minister for Primary & Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir in their offices separately, here on Thursday.

The delegation was jointly headed by Program Director (FHF) John Crail and Chief Executive CBM Mr. Massimo Maggio. Principal Institute of Ophthalmology King Edward Medical University and Chief Executive of Mayo Hospital Prof.

Asad Aslam Khan, Additional Secretary Technical SH&ME Dr. Salman Shahid, Additional Secretary Technical Primary & Secondary Health Dr. Asim Altaf and other concerned officers were present in the meeting.

Prof. Asad Aslam briefed the Minister regarding the services of Fred Hollow Foundation and their assistance for prevention and treatment of eye diseases and strengthening of opthamological departments in public sector health facilities by providing equipments and training to the human resource.

He said that FHF and CBM have extended extraordinary cooperation, technical assistance and resources for setting up modern healthcare facilities in Punjab. He informed that Fred Hollow Foundation is launching a special project of eye-care and referral system in Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur.

Moreover, vision screening project is also being launched in district Khushab, Hafizabad and Tehsil Talagang. He said that Fred Hollow Foundation had launched childhood cataract surgery project in 2017 in Punjab which is being run successfully.

Prof. Asad Aslam further said that FHF and CBM have rendered invaluable services for the promotion of eye healthcare facilities in Pakistan especially in Punjab. Program Director FHF John Crail said that his foundation and CBM would extend all out cooperation in the national survey of blindness in Pakistan.

Prof. Asad Aslam informed that the first survey of blindness was conducted in 1989 and the second one in 2004 whereas the third national survey of blindness would start in September 2018. The joint delegation of Fred Hollow Foundation and CBM also called on Minister Primary & Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir.

During the meeting Prof. Asad Aslam informed the Minister that FHF had played a significant role in expanding and strengthening the eye-care services at the district and Tehsil headquarter level and due to the availability of eye-care in these hospitals the patients turnover has been increased manifold.

He informed that FHF will set up 79 new eye centres at THQ level. He said that 2021 has been fixed as a target to eliminate trachoma from Pakistan for which both the NGOs will extend full cooperation and technical assistance.

While talking to the delegation both the Ministers appreciated the services of Fred Hollow Foundation and CBM for improving the eye health facilities in Pakistan and thanked the office-bearers of FHF and CBM on behalf of the Punjab government and the Health department.