UAE to have first Eye and Tissue Bank

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

When it comes to innovation or trendsetting, the UAE is way ahead of other nations. It has the world’s tallest skyscraper, the highest Ferris wheel, the world’s longest zipline and the deepest diving pool.

It has also set major benchmarks in medical care. In a new development, the Department of Health has teamed up with an American firm, Eversight, one of the leading non-profit eye banks in the world, to set up the UAE’s first Eye and Tissue Bank.

The pact will help a seamless eye transplantation in the UAE.

With Abdulla Bin Mohamed Al Hamed, Chairman of DoH and Carrie Wolverton, Global Development Director at Eversight attending, the accord was inked by Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Undersecretary of DoH and Global Director, Development at Eversight.

Arrangements will be made for the Eye and Tissue Bank – Abu Dhabi to serve as an importer for corneas and other eye-related tissues into the region. This is apart from integrating the eye and tissue banking programme into the UAE’s National Programme for Organ Donation and Transplantation.

On its part, Eversight will develop a comprehensive medical framework to standardise and operate procedures on all clinical functions within the Eye and Tissue Bank – Abu Dhabi.