World Sight Day 2025 in the Eastern Mediterranean

World Sight Day 2025 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) brought together partners, governments, and communities united to show the world how to “Love Your Eyes.” Across the region, impactful initiatives highlighted how collaboration and innovation are driving progress toward equitable, accessible, and available eye care. From life-changing cataract surgeries to preventive screenings and education campaigns, EMRO countries demonstrated remarkable commitment to improving vision health for all. Here are some highlights:

Sierra Leone: Cataract Surgery Outreach & Local Training
A major highlight from the region involves the multi-year Cataract Surgery Outreach Programme in Sierra Leone, driven by a partnership between the Noor Dubai Foundation (a member of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives), Choithram International Foundation, and the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health (MOH).

The program aims to address the leading cause of blindness (untreated cataracts) in Sierra Leone, where 5.4% of citizens aged 50 and above suffer from blindness.

In its first year, the initiative successfully carried out over 1,500 cataract surgeries, delivering vital eye care to underserved communities.

The long-term goal of the three-year project is to perform an estimated 6,000 surgeries and 60,000 screenings.

Standout Impact: Beyond immediate surgical relief, the program includes a crucial capacity-building component. The Sierra Leone Ministry of Health sends two ophthalmologists and four nurses each month for re-training under specialists from India’s Choithram Netralaya, helping to cultivate local expertise for sustainable eye care.

To eliminate barriers to access, Choithram Memorial Hospital coordinates free transportation and provides patients with a per diem to cover meals and lodging during their three-day stay for surgery.

Saudi Arabia: Targeted Screening and Public Awareness
King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KKESH&RC) in Saudi Arabia launched a series of targeted community preventive screening and awareness initiatives under the WSD theme ‘Love Your Eyes’. View the World Sight Day report below.

Workplace Safety Campaign: An ‘Eye Safety’ awareness campaign was conducted across industrial cities for factory workers to promote eye health and workplace safety. Presentations were delivered in Arabic, Urdu, and English, with educational booklets also distributed in Tagalog to ensure broad inclusivity.

This initiative distributed safety glasses to all participating workers to encourage preventative practices.

Rural Screening Outreach: A comprehensive eye screening campaign was held at the Ramah General Hospital. This initiative identified a notable number of previously undiagnosed conditions, including refractive errors, cataracts, and suspected glaucoma.

The campaign served 300 beneficiaries with screening services and reached 642 beneficiaries overall through screening and awareness initiatives.

Digital Reach: A large-scale digital awareness campaign on the X platform (formerly Twitter) was conducted, focusing on early detection and preventive behaviors. This online effort reached 63,000 beneficiaries.

Pakistan & Iraq: Education and School Health Focus
Other EMR members focused on raising awareness and strengthening health systems, particularly for children:

Pakistan: The Sindh Institute of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences (SIOVS) in Hyderabad hosted a full-day Surgical Workshop for its faculty and postgraduate residents, led by Visiting Professor Dr. Irfan Jeeva, sharing advanced surgical techniques.
SIOVS also actively participated in a WSD celebration in Karachi, where the Provincial School Health Working Group, Sindh was formally launched. This launch emphasized advancing equitable and accessible eye care for children through a coordinated, system-based approach.

Iraq: Celebrations were held across health departments in Baghdad and various governorates. Events included lectures and seminars on vision problems, with a specific focus on prioritizing children’s eye health. Health messages and engaging activities were implemented with school students to raise awareness about eye health and safety.