FUNDRAISER EYECARE AND MEDICAL AID FOR PALESTINIAN AND SYRIAN REFUGEES

Vision is the most important and relied-upon of all our senses. It plays a vital role in every stage of our lives. Globally, societies are built on the ability to see, and without adequate vision and/or support, we struggle to learn, work, read and engage in daily activities.

Sadly, children with vision impairment often experience lower levels of educational achievement. In adults, vision impairment can lead to difficulties engaging in simple daily activities, such as walking, which carries a higher risk of falls, fractures, and injuries. Even in straightforward cases, not having adequate spectacles can render someone unable to work and provide for themselves and their family, which can lead to social isolation, anxiety and depression.

The two leading causes of vision impairment globally—uncorrected refractive error and cataracts—can, in almost all cases, be mitigated by having access to a simple pair of spectacles and/or surgical intervention where necessary. In vulnerable communities, something that we take for granted, like a simple eye test and a pair of glasses, can be truly life changing.

Unfortunately, both the Palestinian and Syrian refugee communities in the camps in Jordan have very limited or no access to eye care, let alone the option of cataract surgery. As a result, those in need of these essential services are pushed further into destitution and deprivation. This situation is compounded by the higher prevalence of disease and chronic medical conditions among refugees.

Following the success of a previous Eye Care Mission in Gambia just before the pandemic, a UK Eye Care team consisting of Optometrists, Orthoptists, and Dispensing Assistants will voluntarily travel to Jordan from the 1st to the 8th of January 2025. Working alongside a multi-disciplinary voluntary medical aid team from the UK, the Ophthalmic team will provide free eye exams, spectacles, funded cataract operations, and eye care treatments to refugees in both the Palestinian Refugee Camps near Amman and the underserved Syrian Refugee Camps located close to Mafraq.

The multi-disciplinary team will also include Medical Doctors, Dentists, and Pharmacists.

We will be working with a UK-based charity, Global Ehsan Relief, to deliver these services.

The Ophthalmic team will consist of Hammad Mansoor, Wajid Malik, Itsham Hussain, Akbar Karim, Rachael Chung, Josephine Dingley, Adail Islam, Qamar Iqbal, Faiza Saleh, Javeria Butt, Sabrina Sheikh, Aneeka Ramzan, Jumana Arabi, Marium Hayat, Dr Iman AbdelHalim, Iftakhar Qayoom, and Soheil Abeyat. This team will be accompanied by two medical students, Umar Hussain and Umaymah Hussain, and a support assistant, Saima Mansoor, who will have a dual role, helping both the Ophthalmic & Doctors teams. All volunteers will personally cover the cost of their flights, accommodation and expenses on the trip.

In addition to covering the costs incurred by the ophthalmic team, your generous donations will also support the Medical, Dental, and Pharmacy teams. This includes providing medical exams, medicines, medical supplies, and equipment. Additionally, your donations will cover the costs of administering vaccinations, surgeries, dental treatments, and any on-the-job training, as and when required by healthcare staff on the ground.

When medical assistance alone is insufficient, your donations will fund other necessities such as food parcels, sanitation, winter relief items, school teaching supplies as well as support ongoing local health projects. These needs will be assessed during deployment.

We kindly ask that you join us in making a meaningful impact and donate generously, in the hope that Inshallah we can help ease some of the suffering and pain of these already vulnerable and forgotten communities.

JKK