QFFD plans to expand ‘Qatar Creating Vision’ initiative

In the presence of Her Royal Highness, Sophie, The Countess of Wessex, the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) yesterday announced that their eye health winitiative – Qatar Creating Vision – being implemented by international eye-care charity Orbis has provided almost 2.4 million eye tests to children in India and Bangladesh since work began in July 2016.
The announcement was made by Khalifa bin Jassim Al Kuwari, Director-General of Qatar Fund for Development, in the presence of HRH Sophie, following her visit to Bangladesh to explore first-hand sight saving work supported by Qatar.
HRH Sophie lauded generous role of Qatar and the Qatar Fund for Development for funding the initiative. “I am delighted to be in Doha again. Last time when I visited Doha in 2015, Qatar Creating Vision initiative was born by partnership of QFFD and Orbis. “I travelled to Bangladesh to see wonderful work being done there under the initiative. The Qatar Fund for Development funding is being wisely spent,” HRH said. The Countess of Wessex, who has been an engaged supporter of the initiative since its conception in 2015, said: “As Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, I am aware of the vast numbers of blind and visually impaired people across the world whose lives might be very different if they could access treatment.” “Following my recent visit to Bangladesh with Orbis, where I met children whose lives are being transformed by receiving quality eye care, I am delighted by the vital support the Qatar Fund for Development has given,” she said.
Khalifa bin Jassim Al Kuwari said: “We are delighted that the initiative has reached so many - we know there is much need out there and that children are suffering from very treatable conditions simply because they cannot visit the eye care we have access to.”
He said that QFFD had partnered with Orbis charity in 2015 to launch the “Qatar Creating Vision” initiative to provide 5.5 million eye screenings and treatments to children in India and Bangladesh from 2016 to 2020. “I am pleased to announce that since we began our journey with Qatar Creating Vision, almost 2.4 million child eye tests have been provided to children and 27,000 trainings sessions have been organized for doctors, teachers and community workers.” Through the Qatar Creating Vision initiative, Al Kuwari said, the Qatar Fund for Development had provided a platform for NGOs, corporate sector, and the community at large to get involved and help the initiative provide children with a future.
He said the initiative highlighted the engagement of Qatar in the health sector. “It complements other initiatives of Qatar, and opens the door to Qatari specialists and volunteers to contribute effectively to the prevention and treatment of eye blindness, and to addressing global health challenges.”
Across the programme to date; alongside the millions of eye tests provided to children through school screenings, over 27,000 training sessions have been organised for doctors, teachers and health workers, to help find those struggling with low vision in communities.  Qatar Creating Vision will deliver 5.5 million eye tests and treatments to children across the two countries by mid 2020.    
Dr Robert Walters, Orbis envoy to the Middle East, said: “For many, obtaining treatment for eye conditions can be very expensive or may be too far away to reach. Shockingly, 60% of blind children will die during their childhood. ”
Misfer Al Shahwani, Executive Director of Development Projects Department, said: “Qatar has a long-standing commitment to driving forward a wide range of initiatives that will strengthen healthcare provision both in Qatar and throughout the world.”
In addition to the announcement of the results, Qatar Fund for Development has also expressed their intention to work with Orbis to expand its existing eye health services in Bangladesh further into the South East of the country. This potential programme expansion will support many displaced Rohingya people, as well as the Bangladeshi population in the region.