[:en]26 April 2016 (Dubai, United Arab Emirates): Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai and The Big Heart Foundation, an initiative of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children, are working together to treat a three year old Syrian girl called Salma Mustafa Asaad, aged three and was born with around two thirds of one of her eyelids missing, due to a rare condition called Congenital Eyelid Coloboma. This is where the eyelid and eyebrow are cleft and need repair- her right eye is healthy.
The first of a series of surgical procedures to correct this was recently completed successfully at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai by a specialist oculoplastic team, led by Consultant Ophthalmic & Oculoplastic Surgeon Dr. Yassir Abou-Rayyah. They removed eyelid tissue from her lower lid and grafted it in the upper lid to close the defect. Salma is recovering from the procedure at present and will require a series of further specialist eye surgeries planned over the next 12-18 months.
Salma’s father, Mustafa Ahmed, said: “I want to extend my profound thanks to Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, and The Big Heart Foundation and all its administrators, and to the doctors and medical staff at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai and especially Dr. Yassir Abou-Rayyah, for facilitating this eye surgery for my daughter Salma, and bringing joy and happiness to our hearts.”
Mariam Al Hammadi, Director of Salam Ya Seghar, added: “Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi seeks to alleviate the suffering of children and refugees wherever and whenever her Highness can. It is through her Highnesses’ The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) that the surgery for little Salma can be provided in collaboration with Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai. It is a beautiful thing to give a child her sight back, it is a gift that will last her lifetime. TBHF always strives to provide support to children in need through various charitable projects and relief campaigns, and we hope that this assistance will reach all people who need our help and support.”
Commenting on the medical condition and treatment, Dr Yassir Abou-Rayyah, Consultant Ophthalmic & Oculoplastic Surgeon, said: “Salma has a rare congenital disease, which severely affects her vision. The surgical team was very pleased with the first stage surgery to separate her eyelid from the eye globe and her condition is now very stable, and we now look forward to seeing Salma grow and develop over the next few months, before we continue the treatment to fully restore her upper and lower eyelids. We are very optimistic about the outcome because she is so young and still growing, and look forward to helping Salma achieve normal healthy vision.
Moorfields is delighted to work with The Big Heart Foundation to help Salma and her parents through a challenging series of surgeries, as part of our charitable work in the region and after her referral from the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.”
Yara Al Saleh, UAE Chapter President, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, concluded: “Our primary goal is to identify and treat every child in need in the Middle East region, regardless of their nationality, religion, race or gender. We are doing the best we can to make a positive difference in children’s lives and bring back the hope and smiles to their faces again. We are pleased to have great volunteers and partners like Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai and Salam Ya Seghar to support us in the treatment of Salma and many others.”
Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai wins major international medical tourism award for attracting international patients to the UAE
8 June 2016 (Dubai – United Arab Emirates): Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai (Moorfields) was the winner of the ‘International Eye Clinic of the Year’ award at the annual IMTJ Medical Travel Awards 2016, held recently in Madrid, Spain. The awards attract entries from hospitals and clinics around the world. Moorfields won the international medical tourism award for its success in attracting international patients to Dubai.
Moorfields actively supports Dubai Healthcare City’s programme to develop healthcare tourism, which focuses on a number of key clinical areas, including eye care. Since opening the hospital in Dubai in 2007, Moorfields has treated more than 100,000 patients from over 180 countries, many from the GCC and wider Middle East region in addition to the UAE, for some of the most complex eye conditions.
The International Eye Clinic of the Year award is presented to the eye clinic that demonstrates the greatest success in attracting and serving international patients (medical tourists) with evidence of the numbers and type of medical tourists/patients treated and country of origin, quality and range of services provided and patient satisfaction.
The awards were presented on 24th May at a high profile reception in Madrid, during the International Medical Travel Journal Medical Travel Summit, which brought together all the pre-eminent providers and experts in medical travel and medical tourism sectors.
Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai was also the winner of the ‘International Patient Care Team of the Year’ at the 10th World Healthcare Tourism Congress awards, 2015, held in Dubai.
Commenting on the latest award success, Maha Aboughali – Business Development and Marketing Director at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai – who accepted the award on behalf of the hospital, said: “The Moorfields team in Dubai was thrilled to win this prestigious international award at the IMTJ Medical Travel Awards for 2016. It is our latest international award success and a testament to the hard work we have put in since we opened the hospital in Dubai in 2007, which includes supporting Dubai’s healthcare tourism objectives. We have treated more than 100,000 patients from over 180 countries, through our unique consultant-led service, and it is especially gratifying to have such positive feedback from patients who are treated away from the familiar comforts of home and family.”
Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai is the first overseas branch of the Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London. The hospital provides the full spectrum of eye care related services from basic screening to complex eye surgeries, managed through a resident and visiting team of Consultant Ophthalmologists.
The hospital has replicated the excellent standards of its ‘parent facility’ in London, relating to clinical care, training, teaching, as well as research. Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai meets these standards, while patient care revolves around exceeding patient expectations and providing a customised VIP service.
The IMTJ Medical Travel Awards are owned, organised and produced by the International Medical Travel Journal (IMTJ) publishing and editorial team, which provides insight into the medical travel and medical tourism sector.
Chairman of the judging panel and Managing Editor of IMTJ Keith Pollard says the awards celebrate the best providers in the industry and aim to encourage others to strive to match them: “Medical travel is an exciting and growing global industry, with many providers delivering excellence in both medical care and customer service. The judges wanted to reward innovation and excellence, highlight best practice and celebrate those who are leading the way in the industry and delivering successful outcomes for patients. All our winners exemplify the way the medical tourism industry
should be run – professional, offering exceptional patient care and providing the best possible medical outcomes.”