The Fred Hollows Foundation, a worldwide development organisation that works to eliminate preventable loss of sight in greater than 25 nations worldwide, has introduced the opening of a new regional office in International Humanitarian City (IHC), Dubai.

The Honourable John Brumby AO, Chairman of The Foundation, made the announcement with CEO of International Altruist City, Giuseppe Saba

This new regional base in IHC will help accelerate our efforts to treat some of the millions in this region who are needlessly blind, said Mr Brumby.

Inning accordance with the International Association for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) there are 15 million people in Middle East and South Asia who are blind. Four from five of these people could conveniently be dealt with yet they do not have accessibility to eye healthcare as they live in destitution and can not afford the cost of travel treatment.

" Though we have already brought back view to practically half a million people in South Asia and the Middle East, and two million globally, we are determined to do more," said Mr Brumby.

" In 2018 in South Asia and the Middle East alone, The Structure intends to evaluate more than 1 million individuals; give greater than 70,000 cataract surgical treatments; and train greater than 11,000 physicians, nurses, community health employees and educators. Having a base in the IHC will aid us in these efforts.

During the past 13 years, the Foundation has actually currently offered eye health training for greater than 1,000 local doctors, nurses and community health employees in addition to sight conserving surgical treatment, medications and vital tools in countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Palestine
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CEO of IHC, Giuseppe Saba, welcomed The Foundation to the Dubai's International. Humanitarian City free area. "We currently have more than 50 global participants set up in their workplaces in IHC. It is clear we are drawing in world class non-profits such as the esteemed Fred Hollows Foundation.".

Inning accordance with IAPB there are 3.47 million people who suffer from loss of sight in the Middle East and 11.76 million in South Asia. Furthermore, 79 million struggle with cut vision problems. Both conditions can prevent quality of life, job opportunity and freedom of movement.