The Ministry of Public Health of the IEA Conducts a Public Awareness Ceremony to Promote Eye Health

The ceremony was attended by Qari Abdul Wali Siddiqi, Deputy Minister of Finance and Administrative Affairs at the Ministry of Public Health; Alhaj Sheikh Mohammad Tahir Halim, Chief of Staff; central directors; officials from national and international institutions; and representatives of the media.

Qari Abdul Wali Siddiqi delivered a comprehensive speech on the healthy use and protection of the eyes. He emphasized the necessity of public awareness programs in this regard and added that the Ministry of Public Health is committed to providing high-quality and equitable services to citizens across all health sectors.

The Deputy Minister also stated that the eyes are a great blessing from Allah Almighty; therefore, it is essential to take proper care of them, exercise caution when using mobile phones and other electronic devices, and avoid activities that may harm the eyes.

Sheikh Mohammad Tahir Halim delivered a comprehensive speech on the importance of proper eye care and maintaining eyesight from the perspective of the blessed religion of Islam, stating that Allah Almighty considers a person who does not protect their body parts to be unjust and ignorant.

Dr. Zabihullah Haris, Director of Primary Health Services, stated that the mobile health teams provide various eye care services to citizens in the country’s remote areas, including eye examinations, glasses, and cataract surgeries, and that these services will be further expanded with the special attention of the Ministry of Public Health.

Meanwhile, Dr. Zahir Gul Zadran, Director of the Noor National and Specialized Hospital for the Treatment of Eye Diseases, emphasized the need to increase public awareness, develop specialized services in this field, provide easy access to care, and reduce costs to promote healthy eyesight. He also informed the participants about the services and activities offered by the Noor National and Specialized Hospital.

At the end of the meeting, Dr. Agha Mohammad Abid Tutakhel, National Coordinator of Eye Health Care, delivered a comprehensive speech on the causes of blindness and informed the participants about the activities of the department, adding that the medical teams will perform 200 cataract surgeries next week in the Arzan Qeemat area of Kabul province.