POB Trust: Projects in Pakistan
Family picnics for ophthalmologists; a need for change
Numerous studies and reviews indicate that people who participate in sports and organized recreational activity enjoy better mental health, are more alert, and more resilient against the stresses of modern living. Therefore, the POB Trust provides recreational opportunities to enhance the learning and promote mental and physical health.
The POB Trust organizes various recreational activities for its doctors’ families such as visit to museum, local parks or recreation centers. The families find endless enjoyment, relaxation and learning opportunities. These recreational activities are designed to develop self-esteem and confidence building in children as well.
Last year, the POB Trust had 31 doctors’ families (over 150 people) traveled from Lahore to Ayubia. It was obvious at the picnic that families supporting other families is invaluable, and is the heart and soul of the POB Trust’s annual picnic program. There were traditional activities, games for the youngsters, lots of food and fun for everyone. The Trust rented an outing facility in Ayubia for two days.
Eye Care Trainings
Across the world, there is a wide disparity in the distribution and availability of human resources to address eye care needs at different levels of service delivery. In some countries and within some regions, there are fewer ophthalmologists per population unit. In other areas, there is a virtual absence of other cadres of eye care workers—optometrists and opticians, nurses and nursing aides and technicians. Even in countries where the numbers are adequate, they are restricted mainly to urban centers, with practically no expertise or service available in rural areas. Therefore, in this prospective, the POB Trust has recognized a need for human resource development not only to ensure appropriate eye care of the most complicated cases but also to ensure effective eye care delivery to the remotest rural areas.
Eye Care for Kids
Statistics show that there is lack of availability of quality eye care at an affordable cost and access to pediatric eye care services in schools located in deprived and remote areas remain a critical challenge. POB Trust organizes free eye camps in schools for kids.
Free eye camps in Earthquake affected areas
Two powerful earthquakes of high scale magnitudes struck Kashmir and the south-western province of Baluchistan. The POB Trust has set up eye camps for earthquake victims of Kashmir (2005) and Baluchistan (2008). After extensive planning and preparation, the Trust provided eye care to victims of earthquakes.
Free Eye Care camps commenced for IDPs
Internally displaced persons are persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or natural or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally recognized State border. They are refugees in their own country.
