19 October 2008
MUSCAT -- Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has announced its support for a project undertaken by Al Noor Association for the Blind that aims at protecting diabetics from becoming visually impaired.
During the commissioning ceremony that was organised by Ibri Regional Hospital under the patronage of Her Highness Sayyida Aliya bint Thuwainy Al Said, patron of the association, PDO handed over a specialised laser eye care equipment.
The ceremony was one of a series of events organised by the association as part of World Sight Day 2008 on October 16.
The events of the day also included a series of lectures that were held at Nizwa University on various sight-related topics followed by a public walk in Nizwa later in the evening.
Diabetics are susceptible to an eye disease known as "diabetic retinopathy", which is a major cause of blindness in Oman.
The specialised laser equipment can treat the retina using a method known as "laser photocoagulation", which has been shown to be very effective in reducing the risk of the blindness by over 60 per cent in a treated eye.
On behalf of Al Noor Association for the Blind, Sayyida Aliya thanked PDO for its continuous support of the institution's programmes including this project, the main objective of which is to prevent blindness among Omani diabetics.
She said diabetic retinopathy was a treatable disease and the association's aim was to eliminate blindness.
In response, Abdulamir bin Abdul Al Hussain Al Ajmi, PDO's external affairs and communication manager, said: "PDO acknowledges the effort taken by Al Noor in the service of the blind in this country.
It is, in fact, a pleasure to contribute towards such efforts as part of our social investment programme."
MUSCAT -- Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has announced its support for a project undertaken by Al Noor Association for the Blind that aims at protecting diabetics from becoming visually impaired.
During the commissioning ceremony that was organised by Ibri Regional Hospital under the patronage of Her Highness Sayyida Aliya bint Thuwainy Al Said, patron of the association, PDO handed over a specialised laser eye care equipment.
The ceremony was one of a series of events organised by the association as part of World Sight Day 2008 on October 16.
The events of the day also included a series of lectures that were held at Nizwa University on various sight-related topics followed by a public walk in Nizwa later in the evening.
Diabetics are susceptible to an eye disease known as "diabetic retinopathy", which is a major cause of blindness in Oman.
The specialised laser equipment can treat the retina using a method known as "laser photocoagulation", which has been shown to be very effective in reducing the risk of the blindness by over 60 per cent in a treated eye.
On behalf of Al Noor Association for the Blind, Sayyida Aliya thanked PDO for its continuous support of the institution's programmes including this project, the main objective of which is to prevent blindness among Omani diabetics.
She said diabetic retinopathy was a treatable disease and the association's aim was to eliminate blindness.
In response, Abdulamir bin Abdul Al Hussain Al Ajmi, PDO's external affairs and communication manager, said: "PDO acknowledges the effort taken by Al Noor in the service of the blind in this country.
It is, in fact, a pleasure to contribute towards such efforts as part of our social investment programme."
© Times of Oman 2008
