RIYADH,7 March 2007 — An international ophthalmology symposium, inaugurated by Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie, has called for intensifying efforts to prevent blindness and integrate visually impaired people into mainstream society.
Prince Abdulaziz ibn Ahmed, president of the Saudi Ophthalmologic Society (SOS), attended the inaugural ceremony.
The symposium titled “Saudi Ophthalmology” focused on different aspects of eye diseases and their cures. The King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (KKESH) organized the event jointly with the Saudi Ophthalmologic Society and King Saud University at the local King Fahd Culture Center.
In his opening speech, SOS President Prince Abdulaziz welcomed the participants, especially the international guest speakers.
“The Kingdom will continue to help and unify efforts to provide the best platform in the region to discuss issues affecting visually-handicapped people,” he said, adding that the focus of this year’s meeting was “on the prevention of blindness, cataract, refractive surgery, pediatric ophthalmology and optometry.”
Referring to the discussions at the symposium, Al-Manie said the event would go a long way in terms of its contribution to the well being of visually impaired people.
During the opening session, Dr. Bruce E. Spivey, president of the International Council of Ophthalmology, was honored with the Prince Abdulaziz Shield for the Prevention of Blindness. On receiving the award, Spivey thanked the prince and reaffirmed his commitment “to world for handicapped people and restore sight to those with treatable blindness without any social, racial, cultural, political and religious differences.”
Spivey said he was impressed with what Saudi Arabia has done to elevate its eye care.
“When I first came here you were an importer of eye care and now you are an exporter,” he said.
The symposium was chaired by Prince Abdulaziz and moderated by Adel Al-Rushood and Abdulaziz Al-Rajhi, who is the president-elect of the Middle East African Council of Ophthalmology.
Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries, which have been exerting adequate efforts for the rehabilitation and training of visually handicapped people.
