Low Vision Clinics launched in 10 Districts across Punjab

Lahore: World Sight Day celebrations were held at College of Ophthalmology and Allied Vision Sciences on 25th October . Different speakers including  Prof. Dr. Asad Aslam Khan (Sitara-e-Imtiaz) Pro – Vice Chancellor / Professor of Ophthalmology King Edward Medical University, Lahore Principal / Director General College of Ophthalmology and Allied Vision Sciences (COAVS) National Coordinator, WHO Collaborative Programme for Prevention of Blindness ,Chairman National Committee for Eye Health,Dr. Zahid Pervaiz Medical Superintendent,Mayo Hospital, Lahore,Prof. Dr. Imran Akram Sahaf Professor of Ophthalmology King Edward Medical University, Lahore,Dr. Imam Yar Baig Country Director, Sightsavers – UK,Hasan Minto Chief Executive,Brien Holden Vision Institute – Australia,Dr. Rubina Gillani Country Director,Fred Hollows Foundation, Australia.Dr. Ghulam Nabi Qazi Representative of World Health Organization (WHO) expressed their views on the occasion.

Prof. Dr. Asad Aslam Khan gave an overview of Prevention of Blindness work being done by the College of Ophthalmology and Allied Vision Sciences (COAVS), King Edward Medical University / Mayo Hospital, Lahore under the Health Department, Government of Punjab. He informed about the formal launching of state of the art Low Vision center at Institute of Ophthalmology, Mayo Hospital Lahore, Skills Lab at COAVS and Low Vision Clinics in 10 Districts across Punjab in collaboration with Brien Holden Vision Institute (Australia) to rehabilitate blind people. Dr. Imam Yar Baig highlighted the work of Sightsavers in the country, Dr. Rubina Gillani said that Fred Hollows Foundation is working in the fields of Human Resource Development and Sub-specialty development in the field of Ophthalmology, Mr. Hasan Minto said that we need to work on war footings against blindness and Low Vision, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Qazi described the role of Universal Eye Health as a tool for the access to the Comprehensive Eye Health.

In the end the Chief guest , Medical Superintendent Mayo Hospital highlighted the services being provided by College of Ophthalmology and Allied Vision Sciences (COAVS), Lahore especially in the field of Ophthalmology and appreciated the launching the theme of “Universal Eye Health” and Low Vision Clinics in 10 Districts of Punjab.