ADDIS ABABA – In an ambition to improve eye care services, Saint Paul’s Hospital said it is joining hands with international partners to advance treatment assisted by the latest knowledge and technology in the sector.
The hospital is expanding the cooperation with many international volunteer professionals’ associations, including an Israeli medical organization named Operation Ethiopia, and other partners to provide better medical eye care for patients, Vice President of Ophthalmology Department Fuad Awol (MD) expressed.
Approached by journalists, the Vice President said that the hospital is working and creating long-term partnership with such international partners to realize sustainable improvement in eye care and other health issues to people.
He said that one of the voluntary partners, Israeli organization named Operation Ethiopia, provides volunteer consultations on complicated ophthalmic and Oculoplastic surgical cases in St. Paul’s ophthalmology clinic for eye care patients to restore their eyesight.
“Operation Ethiopia has been working with our hospital for long years and share experience of knowledge examines and treats together with eye patients who are in critical case and to provide better treatment in the eye care unit of the hospital. We use such opportunities to treat many eye patients rather than referring them to other hospitals since eye care is not accessible in many areas.”
Such international cooperation is vital to share experiences regarding modern treatment thereby capacitating local professionals to improve services, according to Fuad.
The collaboration with global partners also helps to reduce the cost patients spend for medical services abroad, he noted.
He said that the hospital identifies and selects patients who are in a serious condition to provide services assisted by volunteers and their modern medical equipment.
This voluntary service should be expanded to other parts of the country to reach elders and disabilities, he noted.
“Apart from providing daily eye medical care for patients, we also travel to rural areas through conducting various campaigns to reach remote patients,”Fuad said.
These day, St. Paul’s hospital is receiving support from international partners as the Israeli Operation Ethiopia provided volunteer consultations on complicated ophthalmic and Oculo plastic surgical cases in St. Paul’s ophthalmology clinic for eye care patients who need aid. An Indian volunteer health professional has also supported hospital by conducting a range of surgical tasks with a range of medical equipment for a long day.
BY MISGANAW ASNAKE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 24 AUGUST 2024
