NOOR DUBAI IS OUR LATEST EFFORT DEMONSTRATING DUBAI’S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO BEING A RESPONSIBLE GLOBAL CITIZEN AND TO HELPING OUR LESS FORTUNATE BRETHREN.
H.H. SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM VICE PRESIDENT & PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES & RULER OF DUBAI FOUNDER OF THE NOOR DUBAI FOUNDATION
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NOOR DUBAI
PREVENTABLE LEADERSHIP BLINDNESS AND ITS EFFECTS
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ACHIEVEMENTS
CAMPAIGNS
CONTRIBUTIONS TESTIMONIALS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS
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NOOR DUBAI Noor Dubai is an international charitable non-governmental, non for-profit foundation working with partners to eliminate avoidable blindness and visual impairment. On September 3, 2008, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Noor Dubai initiative, a personal initiative from him to the rest of the world. Noor Dubai was launched with the vision of a world free from avoidable causes of blindness. Noor Dubai provided therapeutic, preventative, and educational programs to treat and prevent blindness and visual impairment in developing countries on a regional, and international scale. In its first year, and following the great success achieved of reaching out to over 5.8 million individuals worldwide, a decree from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, launched the Noor Dubai Foundation, a non governmental, non-profit foundation aiming to eliminate all forms of avoidable causes of visual disabilities globally.
NOOR DUBAI
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GOALS The treatment of preventable forms of blindness. Preventing the spread of diseases that cause blindness. Educating the public about the causes of blindness and how to avoid them.
VISION A WORLD FREE FROM AVOIDABLE FORMS OF BLINDNESS
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The foundation was built on the following principles:
The latest worldwide estimates from the World Health Organization state that more than 285 million people are visually impaired. Of those, 39 million are blind and 246 million have low vision. Visual disability is a growing threat.
Working towards the complete elimination of preventable blindness in accordance with the VISION 2020 initiative
The Noor Dubai Foundation envisions a world where all individuals living in low income regions and suffering from visual disabilities have equal and fair opportunities for treatment that will improve quality of life as well as access to essential eye healthcare.
Promoting gender equality in regards to the treatment of visual disability Improving the economic condition of developing nations through the rehabilitation of their handicapped citizens Educating the public about preventable blindness and how to avoid it Cultivating an attitude of openness and transparency as a non-profit organization
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PREVENTABLE BLINDNESS AND ITS EFFECTS / Impact of treating and preventing visual impairment / Impact of blindness on the world / How prevelant is visual impairment?
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PREVENTABLE BLINDNESS AND ITS EFFECTS
IMPACT OF TREATING AND PREVENTING VISUAL IMPAIRMENT Treating and preventing visual impairment aims to empower individuals and enable them to participate in society. Performing everyday activities is highly dependent on the sense of sight. Helping visually impaired children see enables them to pursue an education. These children will be able to escape poverty and improve their livelihoods. There is a strong correlation between literacy rates and poverty, indicating that education is a highly effective method of intervention in the alleviation of poverty. Furthermore, restoring the sight of visually impaired adults enables them to participate in working life. These adults will have a greater number of opportunities and a more diverse range of careers to choose from. In addition, the ability to see allows individuals to perform household work. Restoring sight for adults leads to greater health and wealth for both their families and communities. Ultimately, the treatment and prevention of visual impairment has a major impact on the well-being of individuals, communities and nations.
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IMPACT OF BLINDNESS ON THE WORLD
VISUAL
IMPAIRMENT IS
UNEQUALLY
OVER
90%
WITH NO ACCESS TO QUALITY EYE CARE AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE
OF THE WORLD’S VISUALLY IMPAIRED LIVE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
DISTRIBUTED ACROSS:
121 MILLION
ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED BECAUSE OF
UNCORRECTED REFRACTIVE ERRORS
NEAR-SIGHTEDNESS FAR SIGHTEDNESS OR ASTIGMATISM
NORMAL VISION
eyeglasses
COULD HAVE BEEN
contact lenses
RESTORED
refractive surgery
IN ALMOST ALL CASES USING
countries
ALTHOUGH
age group
82%
gender
$102 BILLION
ECONOMIC GAIN OF THE
VISION 2020
INITIATIVE
A
VITAMIN DEFICIENCY
IS A PREVALENT CAUSE OF
PREVENTABLE BLINDNESS
IN CHILDREN
OF BLIND PEOPLE ARE
50
+
YEARS OLD
THERE IS PREVALENCE OF CHILDHOOD BLINDNESS
WITH AN ESTIMATED
250,000-500,000
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+285
MILLION
ARE VISUALLY
246
IMPAIRED
BLIND
MILLION
LOW VISION
CHILDREN ANNUALLY
BECOMING BLIND DUE TO THIS NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY.
1.4 15 BLIND
MILLION
ACCORDING TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO):
MILLION
BELOW THE AGE OF
+
HOW PREVELANT IS VISUAL IMPAIRMENT?
ARE CURRENTLY
YEARS OLD
BASED ON THE LATEST ESTIMATES:
1
MIN
a child goes blind every minute
5
SEC
an adult goes blind every 5 seconds
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LEADERSHIP Noor Dubai has come a long way since its inception and this monumental progress has only been made possible through the efforts of a hardworking team and a knowledgeable board of trustees dedicated to the cause. With this leadership structure in place, the foundation is expected to continue to grow and reach new milestones.
LEADERSHIP
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CEO MESSAGE This was a great year for Noor Dubai, full of change and progress. We welcomed members of the newly appointed board of trustees and new staff, moved offices, obtained charitable status, created a strategic plan to guide us, and have been busy building partnerships that will have a lasting and positive impact on our growth. I’m proud to be part of a dedicated board of trustees that serves a noble humanitarian cause. Each member serves in his area of expertise, from government through to the private sector. There’s a genuine groundswell and focus on seeing an end to avoidable causes of blindness in the world’s poorest countries. In 2010, our priority was to establish bylaws and policies, transforming Noor Dubai from an initiative to a foundation. Registering the Noor Dubai Foundation with the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Organizations complimented our efforts in authenticating our activities inside the UAE and abroad. A new approach toward branding Noor Dubai was achieved through the newly launched website, the online payment portal and blog.
The foundation’s growth, through social media, has been remarkable in the past year giving it the exposure needed for mass education campaigns and other activities targeting the public. Education has been a major goal in our strategy; Noor Dubai participated actively in a number of national conferences and seminars taking an active role in continuous medical education and training. Noor Dubai continues to make great progress with our partners, providing eye care, treatment and screening programs through mobile eye camps, all while undergoing much transition. I want to recognize and thank H.E. Qadhi Al Murooshid, chairman of Noor Dubai Foundation Board of Trustees, for his great stewardship through our transition period. With the ongoing support of our donors, partners, board and volunteers, Noor Dubai Foundation is ready for the challenges and achievements ahead in 2012.
Dr. Manal Omran Taryam Board Member and CEO Dr. Manal Taryam at Noor Dubai Foundation’s camp in Burkina Faso
LEADERSHIP
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIRMAN His Excellency Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid Director General Dubai Health Authority “We impact lives by providing an integrated strategic approach to blindness prevention on an international scale.”
BOARD MEMBER Mahmood Ahmed AlMarzouqi Deputy head of Dubai News Center Dubai Media Incorporated “We need to ensure that the problem of preventable blindness remains at the forefront of healthcare initiatives.”
BOARD MEMBER & CEO VICE-CHAIRMAN His Excellency Nasser Khalifa Al Budoor Assistant Undersecretary for International Relations and Health Affairs – Ministry of Health, UAE “Noor Dubai’s global focus on blindness prevention is a proud example of the UAE’s determination to help those in need wherever they may be.”
BOARD MEMBER AbdulFattah Sharaf Chief Executive Officer, UAE HSBC Bank Middle East Limited “We invest in the infrastructure of developing countries by fighting visual disability and empowering their populations.”
Dr. Manal Omran Taryam, MD Consultant Ophthalmologist Dubai Health Authority “Our pragmatic efforts to eradicate visual disability will provide millions with the satisfaction of self sufficiency”
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ACHIEVEMENTS SAVING SIGHT WORLDWIDE Since its inception, Noor Dubai has made major strides towards the eradication of preventable blindness and has executed blindness prevention and treatment programs in 16 different countries on 2 continents. These extraordinary efforts have resulted in the treatment of approximately 6 million people around the world.
TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE TREATED BY NOOR DUBAI SO FAR:
~6 MILLION
ACHIEVEMENTS
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ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2011
TREATMENT CAMPS
Treatment camps
Noor Dubai Foundation’s primary goal is to eliminate preventable forms of blindness in the hopes of uplifting those living in impoverished nations and enabling them to lead better lives. Noor Dubai is committed to reaching people whether they are living on the edges of the Sahara Desert or in the flooded plains of the Sindh Province of Pakistan. By setting up mobile eye camps in villages and cities in developing countries, Noor Dubai assists the maximum number of visually impaired people without requiring patients to undertake the steep costs of traveling to another country for treatment. While cataract surgery can cost up to 1000 USD in developed countries, the surgery only costs 8 USD at a Noor Dubai camp thus maximizing the effect of all donations regardless of amount.
Increasing awareness and educating the public (website/social media) IAPB-EMR meeting
Generous donations by supporters such as the Dubai Islamic Bank Foundation have helped make these treatment camps possible and have given the Noor Dubai Foundation the ability to reach those in need. “This partnership will enable the DIB Foundation to support NDF in its activities to benefit individuals worldwide by providing medical, surgical and preventive eye care in countries of need. We believe such outreach programs will help in the growth of the national economy in these countries and will help develop their national standards for health as well, especially since the program includes training of local physicians participating in the convoys.” Mr. Abdul Razak Al Abdulla CEO of the DIB Foundation
ACHIEVEMENTS
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Islamic Republic of Pakistan (Shahadatkot - The Sindh Province)
Ghana (Tamale)
April 2011
July 2011
Blindness is one of the major health problems facing Pakistan, draining both its human and economic resources. Around 1.5 million people are blind (4% of the world’s blind people live in Pakistan), 80% of whom can be cured.
According to the latest statistics from the Ghana Eye Foundation, it is estimated that of the 20 million people living in Ghana, 200,000 are blind and over 600,000 people are visually impaired. Over 75% of the causes of blindness in Ghana are avoidable.
The Sindh Province was one of the areas severely affected by the floods of 2010 which exacerbated the effects of decades of poverty. Noor Dubai visited the area to reduce the suffering of its residents and enable them to continue their efforts to rebuild their town. Throughout the team’s time there, they witnessed the joy that overcame the population of this rural town. Children were able to see their parents’ faces for the first time and families that had suffered so much already were finally able to see a ray of hope.
Ghana was also a part of Noor Dubai’s African mobile camp initiative. After driving for 10 hours across borders, the team finally arrived in the city of Tamale. The camp which lasted for 6 days in the capital of Ghana was frequented by people from all over the nation who had come for an opportunity at a better future. Both the old and young were screened for diseases by the resilient camp doctors who conducted multiple surgeries every day in the hopes of making a difference to as many people as possible.
9327 people were treated
5000 people were treated
570 surgeries were conducted
402 surgeries were conducted
1240 glasses were distributed
1000 glasses were distributed
ACHIEVEMENTS
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Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou)
Islamic Republic of Pakistan (Kandiaro – Sindh Province )
July 2011
November 2011
Burkina Faso, which has a population of over 15.5 million, is one of the poorest countries in the world. Burkina Faso lacks the financial support required to properly treat blindness. Although charitable organizations have been providing active interventions into the villages of Burkina Faso to treat the issues of cataract, trachoma and onchocerciasis (River Blindness), blindness prevention remains a major challenge.
Noor Dubai’s second trip to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan also headed to the Sindh Province where the population was still suffering from the after effects of natural disasters. Ophthalmologists and medical staff from Noor Dubai traveled to neighboring villages to conduct post-operative follow-up examinations as well as screen patients unable to travel to the camp in Kandiaro.
The team took a personal interest in helping the people of this impoverished nation and was touched by their kindness. Noor Dubai’s efforts would not only assist those who had gone blind due to preventable diseases but also their families who had come to depend on them. Men who had lost their jobs due to their inability to see were able to provide for their families again and all it took was a small camp conducting 20 minute long surgeries.
5000 people were treated
3500 people were treated
402 surgeries were conducted
358 surgeries were conducted
1000 glasses were distributed
1000 glasses were distributed
ACHIEVEMENTS
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INCREASING AWARENESS AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC WEBSITE/SOCIAL MEDIA The increased emphasis on social media around the world is a result of a well publicized transition from traditional media channels. The Noor Dubai Foundation prides itself on remaining up to date on all technological innovations, medicinal or otherwise and by adopting social media; the foundation can stay connected to all its stakeholders. The popularity of social media makes it easy to reach the team and reduces the barriers to interaction.
Facebook.com/noordubaifoundation Facebook is the latest social media channel started by the foundation. It is regularly updated to keep followers informed of everything from news articles about Noor Dubai to active competitions.
WEBSITE
www.noordubai.ae Noor Dubai Foundation was created to restore sight to people around the world and as such, needed a website that would communicate the foundation’s message. The new website features a more streamlined design, electronic donation services courtesy of the Dubai e-Government and a regularly updated news feed. By functioning as a hub for information about the foundation, the website plays an essential role in keeping Noor Dubai’s message unified and clear.
BLOG
noordubaifoundation.blogspot.com The Noor Dubai Foundation blog is an updated journal of all events, campaigns and happenings that keeps readers up to date on all Noor Dubai news. The blog also allows reader contributions which have become popular with the foundation’s followers.
@noordxbcharity The growth rate of the foundation’s followers on twitter is nothing short of phenomenal. The foundation went from 3 followers when it first started its account in January 2011 to over 1,100 by December 2011. The twitter feed keeps followers up to date on various eye health issues as well as all official announcements made by Noor Dubai. It also allows followers to ask the team questions about charity, health and vision. Interactivity and openness are essential components of Noor Dubai’s efforts to educate the public about preventable forms of blindness.
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IAPB-EMR MEETING Although significant progress has been made in physical, mental and social healthcare over the last 3 decades, there remains an increase in blindness and a prevalence of eye diseases in many communities and countries. This is unacceptable because of the significant development in eye health care services during the last decade and the availability of preventive and affordable solutions. To combat this problem, the Noor Dubai Foundation hosted a workshop in collaboration with the Eastern-Mediterranean Regional Office of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB-EMR). The workshop aimed to fully integrate eye care in all health care service centers especially primary health care.
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CAMPAIGNS / ART4SIGHT / Noor Dubai Foundation Gallery / Dubai Municipality (Flower Sale) / Saks Fifth Avenue (Fashion X Art)
CAMPAIGNS
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ART4SIGHT ART4SIGHT is a charity art event where artists donate their artwork to be exhibited and sold in a fundraising auction to support Noor Dubai’s global programs. The inspiration for ART4SIGHT came from twelveyear-old Fatoumata from Mali who regained her sight following eye surgery performed by the Noor Dubai team. The young girl was fascinated by the contrast of colors around her and amazed the team by painting while still in the recovery stage. With overwhelming support from several prominent artists, local art galleries and renowned art auction house Bonhams, ART4SIGHT successfully raised a significant amount of funds for the foundation and helped increase awareness of the ongoing plight of those living in darkness. Art aficionados from all over the region attended the event, many of which were more than happy to assist Noor Dubai provide much needed relief to those suffering needlessly. Thanks to the efforts put into creating this momentous event, 54 exhibited art works were sold at the auction. Given the success of the event, the Noor Dubai Foundation has decided to make it an annual one thus creating a platform to continuously fund the fight against preventable blindness. Top: H.H. Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, at the opening of “ART4SIGHT” Right: H.H. Sheikh Sultan Bin Saud Al Qassemi moderated the panel discussion held at “ART4SIGHT”
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NOOR DUBAI FOUNDATION GALLERY After treating thousands suffering from visual impairment around the world, the team at Noor Dubai discovered a treasure trove of pictures taken throughout the various camps. Leveraging the artistic quality displayed in these images, Noor Dubai proceeded to organize gallery exhibitions to help spread the foundation’s message and spur the general public to contribute.
CAMPAIGNS
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DUBAI MUNICIPALITY (FLOWER SALE)
SAKS FIFTH AVENUE (FASHION X ART)
In an effort to provide sight saving surgeries for those unable to afford them, the Dubai Municipality organized a flower sale and donated all the profits to Noor Dubai. The event, which was inaugurated by H.E. Engineer Hussain Nasser Lootah, the Director General of Dubai Municipality, was a great success and raised a significant amount of funds for the foundation.
In a valiant effort to support the Noor Dubai Foundation and its efforts to eliminate preventable blindness, Saks Fifth Avenue graciously organized an Art Exhibition in their flagship store in Burjuman Shopping Mall. The exhibited art work by popular regional artists Khawla Al Marri and Khaled Sharaan was displayed and put up for sale with proceeds donated to Noor Dubai. The opening event attracted fashion and art lovers from all over the region thus increasing its prominence and their awareness of the foundation’s noble cause.
The event also featured a lecture given by the Noor Dubai Foundation CEO, Dr. Manal Taryam, to inform attendees of the foundation’s noble cause and how they can help. Support for the foundation within the municipality is a noteworthy achievement and will help spur the involvement of more public departments within the emirate of Dubai.
H.E. Mr. Mohammed Al Murr, Speaker of the FNC, attended “Fashion X Art”
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CONTRIBUTIONS
Following its transition from an initiative to an independent foundation, Noor Dubai opened its doors to public contributions which include direct donations, advocacy and professional contribution to the cause. There are multiple ways to contribute towards making Noor Dubai’s vision a reality. Regardless of expertise, there is always a way to help save sight. The foundation is currently working with professionals and students from various fields in an effort to eradicate preventable blindness and educate the public while maintaining a culture of inclusiveness. These contributions are significantly more important now that the foundation has become financially independent and aims to maximize the amount of donations used to cure preventable blindness.
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TESTIMONIALS The continued success of Noor Dubai after its transition into an independent organization is a testament to the determination of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to alleviate the suffering of people wherever they may reside. It is also an excellent example of our nation’s efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to those who suffer from preventable forms of blindness, especially those living in remote, poverty stricken communities. His Excellency Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim Commander in Chief of Dubai Police
Scan the barcode to watch the interview with his Excellency Dahi Khalfan Tamim.
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SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS The organization’s transition from an initiative to a foundation has allowed Noor Dubai to execute its directive more effectively. The foundation’s great achievements are enhanced by the support it received from the following organizations and government bodies.
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS
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SUPPORTERS
ART4SIGHT SUPPORTERS
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According to Atheer, Zeena’s mother, her daughter was born with a disease that led to severe weakness in her sight. “We asked around between many hospitals in Iraq for the right treatment but this search came to no avail. One hospital offered us treatment for 20,000 Iraqi Dinars, which is too large a sum of money to afford. As you know my husband is merely a simple taxi driver and his salary barely covers our living expenses. So we borrowed money from our neighbors and my daughter underwent surgery but it was not a successful one.” She added, “Her father and I felt demoralized thinking our daughter will never be able to attend school or even be able to play with her siblings. This is when Noor Dubai gave us hope again and provided my daughter with the treatment. My daughter has finally been cured and I am in awe every time I look into her eyes. I am very grateful for Noor Dubai,” she continued.
1 / A TALE OF 2 GIRLS : NOUR & ZEENA
This time around, Nour and Zeena’s journey back to Iraq was a different one for they were able to see their city clearly for the first time. Suffering from visual impairment since they were born, hope finally came to them through “Noor Dubai”, where treatment was provided and the little girls were able to see. The mothers explained the hardships they went through just to find help. “Right after her birth, her father and I discovered that our little girl suffered from separation of lenses which limited her vision greatly” said Rasmiya Tohma, mother of 8 year old Nour Hilal. “Nour is the youngest sibling to 3 boys who also suffered from the same condition. Her father was medically forced to retire and the means of providing became very difficult. We took the eldest to a hospital in Baghdad, where surgery was performed only for his eyesight to become worse. We lost hope in finding treatment for Nour after the consequences of her brother’s surgery. However, Noor Dubai gave us much hope and my daughter was able to see after the surgery”.
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His cataract, which occurred due to malnutrition and a lack of vitamins, was immediately diagnosed and he was prepped for surgery. The Noor Dubai team performed the surgery successfully and replaced his ocular lens with an artificial one which allowed him to see clearly again. The surgery was provided for free by the Noor Dubai Foundation but many others who were not so fortunate had to pay up to AED 3,000 for the same surgery. Abdellahi spent the night at the camp due to the need to observe his case the next morning but as the day went on, he would linger in the camp. When asked by the team why he had not gone home, he replied “I do not possess the cost of transportation”. Upon hearing this, the team took him home in the van assigned to the camp. Upon reaching his home, they quickly realized the state of poverty he was living in. The house occupied by his entire family was no larger than 10 square meters. His elderly father was overjoyed to see that his son could see once again and continued to thank Noor Dubai’s team profusely for this life changing gift.
2 / LOST HIS VISION BECAUSE HE DIDN’T HAVE AED 3,000
“Noor Dubai restored my vision and my life, saved my future which I thought I had lost and spared my family from living on the streets” – Abdullahi Magna Magna (a 27 year old from Burkina Faso) was diagnosed with cataract in both eyes. As the years passed, his vision would slowly fade. As a result of his inability to pay for surgery due to a monthly income which never exceeds $4, he was faced with a life devoid of light. As his eyesight worsened, he lost his job which not only supported him but also his debt-laden father and his aging grandmother. For a year he lived in complete darkness in his father’s one room house and as delayed rent payments piled up, he would become desperate for a solution that would lift him from the darkness. Fortunately for Abdullahi, The Noor Dubai Foundation had organized an eye camp in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, not 7 kilometers from his house. He borrowed the money he needed to get to the camp (which was about $5) and stood in line to be screened by the camp’s doctors.
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The camp’s director Mohammed Fakhruddein emphasized the extreme difficulty of getting proper medical treatment in the town of Maradi where Khadija lived. He said unreliable transport and the fact that the town was 700 kilometers from the nearest airport made it difficult to reach. Additionally, there were extreme logistical problems that limited the supply of required medical equipment.
3 / YOUNGSTER PAYS TRIBUTE TO NOOR DUBAI
7 year old Khadija lost her sight but was saved from living in the dark by the Noor Dubai team. She had traveled all the way from Niger in West Africa to Dubai. She developed cataracts in both her eyes at a young age and would eventually go completely blind and, as a result, was forced to leave school. The family lacked the financial resources to get her the treatment she needed but even if they did have the money for the operation, they did not have access to the required medical professionals. Her family feared their child would continue to live with her disability but with the arrival of the Noor Dubai team, their hopes would rise again. The medical camp, which focused on restoring sight, had a 3 step procedure which involved removing the cataract and replacing her lens with an artificial one. By the morning after the operation, Khadija was in search of her next book. She could not wait to return to her school and was ecstatic at the prospect of continuing her education.
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In January 2009, Girma took Dibaba to a hospital in Asella, a town 40km away. After spending 70 ETB (about 6 USD) for travel and a day’s expenses in town, they were told Dibaba had a cataract but that treatment was not available in that hospital. Dibaba’s hope was shattered.
4 / Mr. Dibaba Honiso An Ethiopian Success Story
In March 2009, a fellow farmer came to Dibaba’s daughter’s house and told them that he had mora (the local Oromifa word for cataract) in both eyes and had gotten treated at a Secondary Eye Care Centre that was supported by Noor Dubai. The fellow farmer was blind but his vision was restored. The fellow farmer’s story gave hope to Dibaba who decided to try again through the same Secondary Eye Centre to see if he could get treatment. On April 13, 2009, Dibaba and his son-in-law journeyed the 70km to the Secondary Eye Centre and were welcomed by Dr. Worku, an ophthalmic surgeon. Dr. Worku diagnosed Diababa with pthitic globe (the absence of an eyeball) with no perception of light in his right eye due to the trauma he had suffered, and an age-related mature cataract with only the perception of light in his left eye. Dr. Worku reassured Dibaba that even though there was no hope for the right eye, he could restore vision in Dibaba’s left eye. On April 14, Dr. Worku operated on Dibaba’s left eye. The supplies for the Cataract surgery were also made available through Noor Dubai. Dibaba’s eye patch was removed the following day and the elderly man was able to see everyone around him. Struggling to find the right words to thank the centre, to thank Noor Dubai and to thank Dr. Worku, he quoted an Oromifa poem : “The sun was setting in my life but you made it rise for me again.” As of 2010, Dibaba has gone back to working as a farmer.
Forty years ago, Dibaba Honiso, now 70, fell off a horse and lost vision in his right eye. He continued his livelihood as a farmer using his left eye, earning no more than 2500 ETB (about 225 USD) annually. Three years ago, he began to have difficulty seeing at a distance, and gradually became unable to see clearly, even in bright light. A year ago, his vision in the left eye failed completely. Being a widower with a daughter living 100km away, he had no one to care for him at his home. He hoped to die peacefully, no longer wanting to live life as a blind man and with no intention of being cared for by others. Dibaba’s daughter, knowing her father needed help, sent her husband Girma Tedesse, to bring her father to live with them. Living in his daughter’s house with many children and meager resources, made Dibaba uncomfortable. He complained about being blind and worried about being a burden to the others. His family knew that some eye diseases could be treated, but they first had to save enough money to transport Dibaba to a doctor.
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WHERE WE WORK
WHERE WE WORK
UAE
MALI
ETHIOPIA
BURKINA FASO
Total benefited: 800 Trained: 15 Total benefited: 198,440 River Blindness: 152,000 Total surgeries: 4,500 Total trained: 41,940
UGANDA
Total benefited: 1,252,481 River Blindness: 1,162,669 Trained: 89,812
YEMEN
Total benefited: 11,000 Total surgeries: 1,347 Total glasses distributed: 2,600
IRAQ
Total benefited: 40
PALESTINE
Total benefited: 182
PAKISTAN
Total benefited: 12,827 Total surgeries: 928 Total glasses distributed: 2,240
SRI LANKA
Total benefited: 10,000 Total surgeries: 1,090 Total glasses distributed: 125
Total benefited: 3,105,900 Trained: 5900 Total benefited: 5,000 Total surgeries: 402 Total glasses distributed: 1000
GHANA
Total benefited: 4,000 Total surgeries: 320 Total glasses distributed: 1,000
NIGER
Total benefited: 13,000 Total surgeries: 909 Total glasses distributed: 2,500
CHAD
Total benefited: 11,000 Total surgeries: 1,000 Total glasses distributed: 3,000
CAMERON
Total benefited: 917,304 River Blindness: 884,732 Trained: 32,572
SUDAN
Total benefited: 29,616 Total surgeries: 3,112 Total glasses distributed: 9,000
Bangladesh
Total benefited: 14,000 Total surgeries: 1,200 Total glasses distributed: 5,000