UAE unveils its first eye donation transplant bank

The UAE has announced that Abu-Dhabi will house the nation’s first eye bank.

As part of its efforts to establish a world without blindness, Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health will collaborate with a top US medical company to build a facility that will import and store donated corneas in the UAE.

The Department of Health in Abu Dhabi (DoH) is working on the project with US-based Eversight and has urged UAE citizens to consent to post-mortem organ and tissue donation.

#GivingTuesday is just one week away! Please consider giving to Eversight on this international day of generosity. Your gift will help Eversight purchase materials and equipment to continue the fight against global blindness: https://t.co/MsiYTlXtfe. #YouChangeLives pic.twitter.com/LAVRYjWWcL

— Eversight (@EversightVision) November 22, 2022

Vision for UAE healthcare

This will be the first eye and tissue bank in the UAE, and Eversight is one of the top non-profit eye banks in the world.

A complete and seamless eye transplantation framework will be developed, implemented, and maintained in the UAE as a result of the agreement.

DoH and Eversight will establish the new business in three phases through this strategic partnership including program design, implementation, and management.

Both organizations will initially concentrate on executing the essential arrangements in place so that the Eye and Tissue Bank and Abu Dhabi would serve as the region’s importers of corneas and other eye-related tissues.

Additionally, the National Programme for Organ Donation and Transplantation of the UAE will incorporate the eye and tissue banking program.

To standardize and operate processes within the Eye and Tissue Bank – Abu Dhabi in accordance with global best standards, Eversight will create a thorough medical framework for the region.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reflecting the partnership was signed by Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Undersecretary of DoH and Erik Hellier, Director of Global Development of Eversight, in the presence of Abdulla bin Mohamed Al Hamed, Chairman of DoH, and Carrie Wolverton – Global Development Executive Director at Eversight.

Dr. Al Kaabi said that in the directives of their wise leadership, Abu Dhabi continues to partner with leading international bodies to promote its national healthcare operations across all frontages.

DoH is proud to have partnered with Eversight to determine yet another impactful program that promotes to sustaining and enriching lives in the UAE and beyond, stated Dr Al Kaabi.

The partnership would aim to further improve healthcare outcomes and facilitate quick and seamless operations for all patients in need of eye-tissue transplantation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Al Kaabi continued DoH would urge all community members to register their consent to donate organs and tissues post-mortem.

While the team works relentlessly to reiterate Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading destination for healthcare, DoH would empower its community to partake in the journey to excellence through noble and sentimental actions as this.

Hellier said, its vision for the future is to expand its reach, connect more effectively with all communities and provide a life full of sight to anyone in need.

“Eversight’s vision is a world without blindness. This partnership is an enormous step towards that vision, Hellier added, this is the highlight of my 17 years in eye banking, and we are very excited for the future’’.