02 November 2008
MUSCAT -- HH Sayyida Aliya bint Thuwaini al Said, Patron of Al Noor Association for the Blind (ANAB), presided at the opening of a workshop on Low Vision for member states of the Arab Blind Union (ABU) at Shatti Beach yesterday. The workshop, concluding tomorrow, will be addressed by experts in their respective fields. "We are grateful that the Sultanate is currently a role model in the Middle Eastern countries in addressing the issue of low vision with strategic plans in improving the quality lives of people with low vision," she remarked on the sidelines of the event.
A lot of people categorise people with low vision as visually disabled, which in reality, is not the case. I have seen a lot of children with low vision studying at Omar Ibn al Khatab School for the Blind who are considered visually disabled, and they are not. With the current workshop, we will assess strategies on how to deal with people of low vision and discuss ways of implementing low vision centres in the Sultanate and other member countries of the ABU.
"The Sultanate is among the leading countries in the Middle East to recognise the needs of people with low vision as opposed to blindness. A survey conducted in 2005 revealed that a number of children suffer from low vision. New advancements in technology and availability of aids of various kinds have changed the concept of those with poor vision as opposed to being totally blind," said Barka al Bakry, Vice- President, ANAB, in the opening speech.
The Sultanate is proud to be a pioneer in addressing issues related to low vision because of its initiative for the establishment of a low visions care programme over the last five years. The programme is a joint effort of the ministries of health and social development, the Sultan Qaboos University, Al Wafa Centres for the Blind and ANAB, he stated. Specialised speakers from Kenya and India will present papers on the definition of low vision and its impact on quality of life and society, assessments of low vision disability, tips of assessment of low vision and contrast sensitivity. The Sultanate's presentations focus on the Vision for 2020, the Low Vision Initiative and the steps of establishing low vision care Oman model.
MUSCAT -- HH Sayyida Aliya bint Thuwaini al Said, Patron of Al Noor Association for the Blind (ANAB), presided at the opening of a workshop on Low Vision for member states of the Arab Blind Union (ABU) at Shatti Beach yesterday. The workshop, concluding tomorrow, will be addressed by experts in their respective fields. "We are grateful that the Sultanate is currently a role model in the Middle Eastern countries in addressing the issue of low vision with strategic plans in improving the quality lives of people with low vision," she remarked on the sidelines of the event.
A lot of people categorise people with low vision as visually disabled, which in reality, is not the case. I have seen a lot of children with low vision studying at Omar Ibn al Khatab School for the Blind who are considered visually disabled, and they are not. With the current workshop, we will assess strategies on how to deal with people of low vision and discuss ways of implementing low vision centres in the Sultanate and other member countries of the ABU.
"The Sultanate is among the leading countries in the Middle East to recognise the needs of people with low vision as opposed to blindness. A survey conducted in 2005 revealed that a number of children suffer from low vision. New advancements in technology and availability of aids of various kinds have changed the concept of those with poor vision as opposed to being totally blind," said Barka al Bakry, Vice- President, ANAB, in the opening speech.
The Sultanate is proud to be a pioneer in addressing issues related to low vision because of its initiative for the establishment of a low visions care programme over the last five years. The programme is a joint effort of the ministries of health and social development, the Sultan Qaboos University, Al Wafa Centres for the Blind and ANAB, he stated. Specialised speakers from Kenya and India will present papers on the definition of low vision and its impact on quality of life and society, assessments of low vision disability, tips of assessment of low vision and contrast sensitivity. The Sultanate's presentations focus on the Vision for 2020, the Low Vision Initiative and the steps of establishing low vision care Oman model.
By Maryam Khalfan
© Oman Daily Observer 2008
