A charity organization is focusing on combating poverty among the visually impaired in Makkah province.
Secretary-General of the Organization for Rehabilitation and Service of the Visually Impaired Muhammad Bello said: “There has been a significant rise in the poverty level among the visually handicapped in recent times.” The organization beefed up its fight against poverty among the blind in line with the recommendations of Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed at the third meeting of Jeddah’s local development council, Bello said.
He said the organization is currently striving to implement a number of charity projects, which include dealing with possible visual impairment before it becomes a permanent disability.
The project helps people who suffer from eye diseases but cannot afford specialist treatment that can save their eyesight. He said the organization took such patients to specialist hospitals even if they do not have medical insurance. He added 695 people benefited from the project last year.
He said the organization spent SR 582,406 to distribute 1,871 food baskets besides medicine, clothes, books and school stationery for poor blind people last year.
They were also given a share of zakah (charity). This is in addition to 2,760 pieces of Braille apparatus, 87 screen reading programs and 86 special walking sticks at the cost of SR 624,652.
As part of its services, the organization arranged Umrah pilgrimage for 522 disabled people and also arranged training courses to help beneficiaries read and write in Braille.
Charity to help visually impaired
