Doha: Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS), in partnership with the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), has launched an ophthalmology project benefiting Rohingya refugees and the host community in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.
According to Qatar News Agency, the project is implemented under the medical convoys program and will conduct 15 field campaigns over four months. These campaigns will examine patients, provide medical consultations and health education, and distribute eyeglasses and medications free of charge. Additionally, patients requiring cataract surgery will be referred to specialized hospitals. The project will also cover the costs of 400 surgeries, including transportation, medications, and post-operative care.
Head of QRCS's mission in Bangladesh, Mohamed Thabet Safi, highlighted that the project addresses a significant gap in access to specialized eye care services. He pointed out that long distances and the high cost of treatment pose obstacles for thousands of treatable cases, adding that most of the targeted patients are older persons. "The intervention was designed to cover the host community alongside refugees. Equitable health services help strengthen social cohesion and reduce pressure on local health facilities," he emphasized.
The project responds to the growing need for eye care services in refugee camps and surrounding areas. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 10 percent of camp residents suffer from vision problems, representing around 90,000 individuals in need of specialized services.
This initiative is part of QRCS's ongoing efforts to support the health sector and provide assistance to the most vulnerable groups.