“FIMA’S SAVE VISION PROGRAM NOMINATED FOR 2009 RICHARD AND HILDA ROSENTHAL AWARD" Barbara J. Turner, MD, MSED, MA, and FACP August 14, 2008
In a companion letter, Faroque Khan, MD, MACP outlined in detail the scope of the program’s accomplishments. A few of the facts bear repeating. Originally proposed by a fellow of the College, Al Mishal, MD, and FACP in 2004, the program established eye camps in the Darfur region of Sudan manned by volunteer eye surgeons who restored vision primarily by removing cataracts. The program has been so successful that it has been expanded to 8 other countries. Over 300,000 patients have been evaluated. Nearly 33,000 patients have had their vision restored. A permanent eye hospital was created in Darfur in 2006 to continue the work. Another is planned for Sri Lanka. The volunteers have begun teaching programs in Sudan, Nigeria, and Pakistan to develop teams of local personnel who can carry on the work. Most of the countries where FIMA’s Save Vision program has restored vision have been sites of disastrous conflicts. The members of the Federation of Islamic Medical Associations who have volunteered their services amid these conditions have certainly fulfilled FIMA’s aim to “…provide medical care and relief to affected areas and people.” Recognizing their accomplishments with the 2009 Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award would afford the American College of Physicians an opportunity to bring attention to the plight of people whose health care becomes a victim of civil conflict and to recognize the physicians of the FIMA Save Vision program who volunteered their time and took the risk to restore vision to thousands of those people. Best wishes, |