PESHAWAR, Aug 8: NWFP Minister for Health Dr Mehr Taj Roghani will inaugurate the newly-upgraded eye unit of the Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals, Swat, on Aug 14.

The Fred Hollows Foundation, an Australian organization, has taken up the task of upgrading eye units in 20 district headquarters hospitals and four tertiary level hospitals in the country with the financial assistance of $3 million from the Australian government.

Swat is the sixth district in this regard, said a press release issued on Thursday.

It is a joint venture of the Australian government, the NWFP, Fred Hollows Foundation, and the Pakistan Institute of Community Ophthalmology, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar.

To create awareness in the public about the eye-care and prevention of avoidable blindness, a drive will be launched from Aug 12 to 15.

During the drive, a 100 surgeries free eye camp, intra ocular lenses and all other costs involved will be provided by the Fred Hollows Foundation. In addition, about 500 deserving patients will be provided free medicines in the OPD and 300 patients will get glasses.

Besides, the students of both the government primary schools for boys and girls in Haji Baba, Akhpal Kor Model School for Orphans will be screened for refractive errors by the eye specialists of Saidu hospitals.