ISLAMABAD: To strengthen eye health services, a non-governmental organisation has provided Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi with advanced ophthalmic equipment worth Rs12 million under its ongoing cataract support programme.

The upgrade is aimed at enhancing cataract surgical services and improving access to quality eye care for the community.

According to a statement, the newly-supplied equipment includes an air puff tonometer, operating microscope, operating table, slit lamp with applanation tonometer, auto kerato-refractometer, biometer and other surgical tools such as tubing and cassette for pulsar minimal stress. These advanced tools are expected to significantly improve the precision, efficiency and capacity of cataract surgeries performed at the hospital, the press release said.

This is not the first time Sightsavers - the donor organisation - has partnered with Holy Family Hospital.

“In the past, the organisation has supported several eye health initiatives and school eye health training programmes in collaboration with the hospital. This intervention is part of the cataract support programme, which was launched in 2021 to strengthen the cataract surgical services of selected health facilities across Pakistan,” it said.

The programme supports hospitals on an annual basis by reviewing their needs and filling critical gaps in equipment, intraocular lenses (IOLs) and surgical consumables.

Director of Sightsavers Pakistan and Middle East Munazza Gillani said: “The provision of high-quality equipment not only enhances the surgical outcomes for cataract patients but also contributes to the overall strengthening of the health system. This dual impact ensures that patients benefit directly through improved vision and indirectly through enhanced healthcare infrastructure.”

Head of the Eye Department at Holy Family Hospital Dr Fuad A.K. Niazi expressed his gratitude for the continued support, stating, “We are thankful for consistent collaboration over the years. From pioneering diabetic retinopathy services to now equipping our department with advanced cataract tools, their support has been instrumental in enhancing our capacity to serve patients with quality eye care.”

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2025