19 October 2008
MUSCAT -- Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has announced its support for a project undertaken by the Al Noor Association for the Blind that aims to help 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 the specialised laser eye care equipment.
The ceremony was one of the series of events organised by the Association as part of the World Sight Day 2008 and the International Community on October 16 in celebrating these events which also included series of lectures that were held at Nizwa University on various sight related topics followed by a public walk in Nizwa later that evening. Diabetics are susceptible to an eye disease known as "diabetic retinopathy" which is an important 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 hence reducing the risk of the blindness by over 60 per cent in a treated eye. On behalf of Al Noor Association for the Blind, HH Sayyida Aliya thanked PDO for their continuous support of the institution's programmes including this project whose main objective is to prevent blindness among Omani diabetics.
She stated that diabetic retinopathy is a treatable disease and the Association's aim is 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 and that it is 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 the Al Noor Association for the Blind that aims to help 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 the specialised laser eye care equipment.
The ceremony was one of the series of events organised by the Association as part of the World Sight Day 2008 and the International Community on October 16 in celebrating these events which also included series of lectures that were held at Nizwa University on various sight related topics followed by a public walk in Nizwa later that evening. Diabetics are susceptible to an eye disease known as "diabetic retinopathy" which is an important 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 hence reducing the risk of the blindness by over 60 per cent in a treated eye. On behalf of Al Noor Association for the Blind, HH Sayyida Aliya thanked PDO for their continuous support of the institution's programmes including this project whose main objective is to prevent blindness among Omani diabetics.
She stated that diabetic retinopathy is a treatable disease and the Association's aim is 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 and that it is a pleasure to contribute towards such efforts as part of our social investment programme."
By Staff Reporter
© Oman Daily Observer 2008
