Raqqa, Nov. 5 (SANA) Raqqa National Hospital has received specialized medical equipment and supplies from Al-Basar International Foundation to restore eye surgery services in the province after nearly 14 years of suspension, allowing patients to receive treatment locally instead of traveling to other provinces.
Hospital Director Dr. Ahmad Al-Assaf told SANA that the donation included a surgical microscope, a phacoemulsification machine used in cataract operations, and other medical supplies sufficient to perform around 400 cataract surgeries.
He said reopening the hospital’s ophthalmology department would mark an important step toward restoring specialized eye-care services in Raqqa, particularly cataract treatment and certain minor eye operations.
The department is scheduled to begin receiving patients and performing surgeries next Sunday. Its initial capacity will be limited because of space constraints, Al-Assaf said, adding that work is underway to upgrade the hospital and its operating rooms to accommodate more patients and improve the quality of medical services.
Support for local eye-care services
Muhammad Mujawar Muhammad Othman, a representative and medical assistant at Al-Basar International Foundation, said the organization had provided equipment and medical supplies to treat 400 patients or more.
The initiative aims to support medical personnel and enable them to perform surgical procedures at the hospital, responding to the province’s need for specialized ophthalmological services, he added.
The resumption of operations is expected to reduce the difficulties faced by patients who previously had to seek treatment outside Raqqa, particularly those requiring cataract surgery.
In July, the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with Al-Basar International Foundation, launched a free cataract treatment campaign at Raqqa National Hospital, offering diagnostic and treatment services to patients with eye conditions.
Combating blindness and eye diseases
Founded in 1989, Al-Basar International Foundation is a non-governmental, nonprofit humanitarian organization specializing in combating blindness and eye diseases. It seeks to reduce visual impairment and provide comprehensive eye care to vulnerable communities in developing countries.
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