The Chad initiative, according to COMSTECH, “aimed to address the urgent eye care needs of the people of N’Djamena.”
The Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation successfully completed 400 cataract operations in Chad, the OIC member state with the lowest level of development, in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and Pakistan’s Layton Rehmatullah Benevolent Trust, the committee announced in a statement on Monday.
The mission of COMSTECH, one of the OIC’s four permanent committees, is to promote scientific and technological endeavours among its member countries. It was created at the Islamic Summit of the OIC in 1981 in Mecca.
The Layton Rahmatullah Benevolent Trust, also known as LRBT, is Pakistan’s largest non-governmental organisation dedicated to eradicating blindness.
The Chad initiative, according to COMSTECH, “aimed to address the urgent eye care needs of the people of N’Djamena.” “Over the course of eight days, a team of dedicated Pakistani ophthalmologists organised and ran a free Eye Camp in harsh weather, making a significant difference in the lives of hundreds of people.”
The camp sought to build local capacity through training and awareness campaigns in addition to performing urgently needed cataract operations on eyes.
“Well-known for their in-depth knowledge in the field, Pakistani ophthalmologists taught local physicians the most recent methods for cataract surgery.
In order to ensure the best possible patient recovery, post-operative exams were also carried out, according to COMSTECH. This effective eye cataract surgery camp serves as proof of the effectiveness of global cooperation and group efforts in improving people’s lives and communities.
Launching a youth-focused awareness campaign to emphasise the value of preventive measures against avoidable blindness was a crucial part of the initiative.
According to the statement, “COMSTECH seeks to foster a culture of proactive eye care by engaging with the younger generation and making a lasting impact on eye health.” The free eye camp was held at a neighbourhood hospital in N’Djamena with assistance from the Chadian Ministry of Health.
The N’Djamena people “expressed their sincere gratitude to the Pakistani doctors for their selfless dedication and their unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others, even in trying circumstances,” according to COMSTECH.