The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Eye Hospital And Singapore Airlines jointly organised a community project "Eye-See-The World" to help people with visual disabilities.

The organisers talked to the journalists about different aspects of the project in a press conference in a city hotel yesterday.

A team of three-specialist eye Surgeon and a nurse from the National University Hospital (NUH) of Singapore conducted treatment and surgery on needy patients in a village hospital in Bhairab under Narsingdi district.

The team was led by Dr Clement Tan, Consultant Eye

Surgeon of NUH. Dr Mahbubur Rahman Chowdhury, Chairman of Bangladesh Eye Hospital and special Surgeon Dr Niaz Rahman also performed operations together with the Singapore team.

In the two-day programme on March 7 and 8, the specialists conducted surgery on 64 patients and provided another visual treatment to 505 patients.

Cheang Kon Ming, General Manager of Singapore Airlines in Bangladesh, said 'I am really proud to be part of such activities.' He assured to provide all kind of logistic supports that Bangladesh Eye Hospital needs to go further with this project.

Dr Clement Tan said the people of Bangladesh are very hospitable while disclosing his working experience. He expressed the hope for future collaboration with the hospital.

Dr Mahbubur Rahman Chowdhury said, " We have started our journey through this project. We have to go a long way."

He also said Bangladesh has the highest number of blind people compared to its population. There are 750,000 adults and 40,000 blind children in our country. This number is increasing every year. The major challenge in eliminating blindness in Bangladesh is reaching the rural population, as they are the ones who need help while most of the medical facilities are available only in the major cities. Based on this fact, Bangladesh Eye hospital has taken this initiative.

Steven Mok, Manager of National Healthcare Group of Singapore, eminent actor Asaduzzaman Noor, among others, were present in the press conference.

It may be mentioned that a medical seminar on "Updates of Opthalmology" for the medical postgraduate students and doctors by National Healthcare Group (Singapore) was held yesterday.