Prevention of Blindness Trust

Prevention of Blindness Trust
POB Trust logo
Abbreviation POB Trust, POB
Motto Prevention of avoidable blindness
Formation 2007
Type Free Eye Care Registered Trust
Legal status Registered Trust under Trust act of Pakistan. Tax Exempted.
Purpose Vision 2020 of WHO(World Health Organization)
Headquarters Lahore
Location
Region served
Pakistan and Worldwide 20 Countries
Membership
PIMA, FIMA,
Secretary General
 Dr. Mohammad Zahid Latif
Chairman
 Dr. Intzar Hussain Butt
Parent organization
 Pakistan Islamic Medical Association
Affiliations ECOSOC, WHO,[1] FIMA, FIMA Save Vision, PIMA – See [2]
Website www.pobtrust.org

Prevention of Blindness Trust, also known as the POB Trust and POB, is a project of Pakistan Islamic Medical Association.[3][4] POB Trust was established and registered by Trust Act in July, 2007 as a leading volunteer eye care organization with the sole mission of preventing blindness and preserving sight. POB Trust was declared exempted from tax in 2012 by Federal Board of Revenue (Pakistan)[5] POB Trust endeavors to develop strategies for prevention and control of blindness and visual impairment. The prime objective of POB Trust is to promote and sustain a global campaign against all forms of avoidable blindness with emphasis on deprived communities. This initiative brings with it a great challenge and an exciting hope for all who work towards this goal. It is also a member of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness for the VISION 2020: The Right to Sight.[6]

Activities

The POB Trust was registered in 2007, but the organization had been working in the field from 2005. Until May 2015, approximately US$56 million had been spent on its projects of free eye care services involving 115,194 Cataract Surgeries[7] of patients in 20 countries. POB Trust have been working in many areas:

  • Free Eye Camps Pakistan
  • Free Eye Camps in poor countries.
  • Higher Surgical Training [8]
  • School Eye Care Services.
  • Emergency Relief: Earth Quak, Floods, IDP's.
  • Prison Eye Care.
  • Social Activities.
  • Blind Rehabilitation Program.
  • Community Centers: Jarranwala District Faisalabad, Channan Kharian District Gujrat.
  • POB Eye Hospitals : Lahore and Karachi
  • Public Awareness Campaigns

POB Trust organizes free eye camps in remote areas of the country. Every camp lasts for 2 to 4 days according to the location. During each free eye camp 1000-3000 patients are screened for cataracts and if diagnosed, they are referred for diagnostic tests including Hepatitis B,C Screening. Tests are performed free of cost in the camp. After passing these test patient goes towards surgery, and about 100-300 patients undergo the surgery in three days. Cataract-surgeries are done with Intra-ocular Lens implantation with small incision & Phaco-emulsification. In the out-patients reading glasses and eye drops are also distributed.

Free eye camp in Faisalabad district of Punjab Pakistan

From 2005 to September 2016, the trust has achieved the following milestones: 22 countries in Asia and Africa 659 free eye camps Over one million, one hundred and fifty-seven thousand, nine hundred and thirty-six patients examined & treated. Over 124,526 operations with free lens implantation. (Mostly Cataract surgeries) Over 1 millions pairs of reading-glasses distributed.

Partners

POB Trust worked in shared projects with many other organizations like International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO), Akhwat, UK Islamic Mission, Al Khidmat Foundation, FIMA Save Vision, Pak Trust UK, Helping Hand for Relief & Development, and with Ministry of Health Pakistan.

POB Eye Hospitals

Lahore

7 kilometers Main Raiwind Road, Lahore

Karachi

Gulistan e Johar, Karachi

Front view of POB Trust Eye hospital Karachi Pakistan (now working in rental building)

POB Trust activities during this period were based in 20 countries, as follows:

Countries of activities

Sudan, Chad, Somalia, Somali land, Nigeria,[9][10] Mali, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Burkina Faso, Niger, Indonesia, Cameroon, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Gaza Palestine,[8] Bangladesh, South Africa, Maldives and Pakistan

International Recognition

1. Richard and Hinda Rosenthal award from The Rosenthal Family Foundation is given to Dr. Pervaiz Malik on Prevention of Blindness Services recognition. Date is 24 April 2009.[11][12] 2. Pakistan Society of Ophthalmology award in 2011 [13] (see category 'OSP PICO Gold Medal on page 3) 3. Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Outstanding service in prevention of blindness Award [14]

Research Published

1. Prevalence of Refractive Errors in a public school children of Lahore [15]
2. Private Public Mix Working Model of a Teaching Hospital, Benefits for the Organizations and End users[16]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.emro.who.int/control-and-preventions-of-blindness-and-deafness/useful-links/useful-links.html
  2. ↑ http://pima.org.pk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=134:prevention-of-blindness&catid=25:pima-prevention-of-blindness&Itemid=58
  3. ↑ "Seminar on blindness: PIMA to build hospital for free eye treatment". The Express Tribune. June 29, 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  4. ↑ "Doctors to conduct eye surgeries in Africa". The News. Pakistan. June 29, 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  5. ↑ http://pobtrust.org/pobdownloads/category/11-tax-exemption
  6. ↑ http://pobtrust.org/about-pobtrust/core-values-and-strategy
  7. ↑ http://www.thefinancialdaily.com/epaper/Images/7-9-2013/2/2.jpg%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D
  8. 1 2 http://www.express.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=1101754215&Issue=NP_ISB&Date=20130213
  9. ↑ http://epaper.brecorder.com/2010/07/08/18-page/191321-news.html
  10. ↑ http://www.express.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=1100991735&Issue=NP_LHE&Date=20100708
  11. ↑ http://fimaweb.net/cms/index.php/joomla-pages-iii/categories-list/71-projects/pob-trust/150-the-rosenthal-family-foundation
  12. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-03. Retrieved 2015-06-05.
  13. ↑ http://www.osplhr.org/OSPWebpages/Archives/GoldMedalRecepients.pdf
  14. ↑ http://www.apaophth.org/award_past.php#10 Archived 2011-09-04 at the Wayback Machine.
  15. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2015-06-05.
  16. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2015-06-05.
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