As Standard Charted Bank Gambia started their "seeing is believing" initiative, the team last Wednesday conducted an observation tour of Sheikh Zahid Regional Eye Care Clinic, in Kanifing. 

The tour availed them the opportunity to see for themselves how work is done at the clinic. Speaking to the Daily Observer, Ansumana Sillah, National Eye care manager and coordinator of the Health for the Prevention of Blindness at the clinic described the initiative as good. He observed that the stakeholders' partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is making headway towards achieving the elimination of avoidable blindness, which he said is inline with the 'right to sight' of the Vision 2020.

The exercise which started since last week, according to him is meant to identify people who are in need of cataract operation, which is the cause of preventable blindness. He revealed that they are targeting 200 eye patients, noting that the initiative will be decentralised to all the regions in the country. According to Sillah, the initiative seeks to target marginalized groups in the society with special emphasis on women and children. Sillah commended Standard Chartered Bank for such a laudable initiative, and went on to hail President Jammeh for making health a priority. 

Speaking earlier, Olu Doherty, who experienced six months blindness, said he regained his sight after undergoing a surgical operation at the eye clinic. He also commended President Jammeh for given health a top priority on his national development agenda.