'Oyooni' Project.
Positive feedback from Palestine's Mobile Eye Clinic
On 6th September 2008, Ardentinny residents and visitors rallied to support Dr. Ali Dabbagh's ground-breaking project to establish and manage a mobile eye clinic in Palestine. Dr. Dabbagh's wife, Sana, has kindly provided us with feedback on Dr. Dabbagh's November Palestine trip. They have called the project 'Oyooni' which Sana tells us is Arabic for 'my eyes' but is also used as a term of endearment, i.e., 'my love'.
Dr. Dabbagh reported on the 3 objectives of Oyooni, namely, Educational; Telemedicine; and Clinical.
The following was achieved:
Educational:
Glaucoma course; organized & spearheaded by M.A.P. UK & included community workers from all walks of life, regions & affiliations to Health providers.
Initial feedback was very good. Was well received and participants quite engaged. Started 9 am and ran to 3:30pm. Included a theory and a practical part. The participants are very keen indeed for me to run future courses, with the initial course forming the nucleus for the future ones. "Exciting, Empowering..".
The community workers are thinking of forming an association, to help them, among other things, to keep in touch & with the dire conditions under which they live, enable them to cooperate & provide better needed services. They have asked me to help & guide them with regards to training & continued education. They will form the grassroots of the services of the mobile clinic.
Telemedicine:
a) Updated & tested the software for Oyooni with the help of Bir Zeit IT department. Finely tuned now and ready to go.
b) Linking the Community Workers to the future telemedicine link.
Clinical:
- Met Dr U. Khamash, medical director of UNRWA, and discussed possibilities of setting up an ophthalmology service for the camps, as well as Oyooni services.
- Linked up with Steve Sosebee, PCRF, and possible future cooperation.
- Equipment purchase (see list image):
TAQI icare Tonometer S>N> 0826AA009
11820 Pan Optic Opthalmascope
71904 Lithium Power Source
Binocular Loupe BLP 4
- Contacted P.H.R.I. which promised to help with the logistics of bringing in the Laser machine & other equipment into Palestine.
We all regularly make donations to all kinds of charities and it is exceptionally rewarding to have such detailed feedback on how our donations are being utilised.
Click image to enlarge
[News]
Ardentinny makes a difference...
£2,247 worth, to be precise. That was the amount raised by the Charity Sale, Music Night and Auction held in Ardentinny on Saturday 6th September to help fund Dr. Ali Dabbagh's mobile eye clinic in Palestine. When you consider that the cost of treating Trachoma, the most common cause of blindness, is just 1 US dollar, that should make a great deal of difference to a population whose majority has little access to the most basic health care.The event began with an impressive show and sale of art and crafts. The warm, informal atmosphere encouraged visitors to linger over a coffee and chat to Dr. Dabbagh and his wife about the background to the project and its plans. Sana Dabbagh talked about the welcome and generosity of the Palestinians whenever they visit, despite their lack of so many of the things we take for granted. Dr. Ali Dabbagh outlined the project's aims and objectives. Over and above the actual screening and treatment of patients, he stressed the importance of the educational aspects, i.e., in counterpart training local medical staff and in raising patient awareness as to the importance of early detection.
The evening event was equally successful with Graeme Lawson and Friends providing a variety of musical entertainment. Gerry McGinty proved a skillful auctioneer, encouraging some fierce bidding and the sale of all the the items and the night ended with sponsored peace candles floating on Loch Long accompanied by the strains of 'Blowin in the Wind'.
The second phase of the project will begin on 4 initial sites in November 2008.
More images of the event.