Doha, September 08 (QNA) - Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS), in partnership with the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), has launched an ophthalmology project benefiting Rohingya refugees and the host community in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.
Implemented under the medical convoys program, the project will conduct 15 field campaigns over four months to examine patients, provide medical consultations and health education, and distribute eyeglasses and medications free of charge. Patients requiring cataract surgery will be referred to specialized hospitals. The project will also cover the costs of 400 surgeries, including transportation, medications and post-operative care.
Head of QRCS's mission in Bangladesh Mohamed Thabet Safi said the project addresses a significant gap in access to specialized eye care services. He noted that long distances and the high cost of treatment pose obstacles for thousands of cases that can be fully treated, adding that most of the targeted patients are older persons.
"The intervention was designed to cover the host community alongside refugees. Equitable health services help strengthen social cohesion and reduce pressure on local health facilities," he said.
The project comes in response to the growing need for eye care services in refugee camps and surrounding areas. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 10 percent of camp residents suffer from vision problems, representing around 90,000 people in need of specialized services.
The project also forms part of QRCS's ongoing efforts to support the health sector and provide assistance to the most vulnerable groups. (QNA)