To mark the occasion of World Health Day and the Launching of Vision 2020: The Right to Sight Campaign, the university inaugurated its Clinic of Optometry. Vision 2020 is an ambitious joint initiative of the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness, which aims to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020. The day marked the 3rd Anniversary of the establishment of the Faculty of Optometry.
The opening was attended by the Minister of Justice, Ali Sartawi, Assistant Deputy of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Fahed Al-Sayed, University President, Prof. Rami Hamdallah, and the Dean of Faculty of Optometry. Guests representing local associations and members of university staff were also in attendance.
Dean of Faculty of Optometry thanked all parties who have contributed to developing improved eye care throughout Palestine, particularly the World Council of Optometry, the International Center for Eye Care Education and the International Association for Contact Lens Educators. Dean of Faculty of Optometry also expressed her thanks to local and international organizations for their support of the university's faculty. Americans Mathew and Nicole Pearce came all the way from the U.S. to teach An-Najah students and offer eye care services to the Palestinian community. For their efforts, Dean of Faculty of Optometry expressed the university's and the community's, gratitude.
Dr. Fahed Al-Sayed, Assistant Deputy of the Ministry of Health, said that it was his pleasure to participate in such an inauguration. He also expressed the readiness of the Ministry of Health to cooperate with the university in different fields. Such projects will help to provide the local community with the optometry specialists who are in such great demand.
Dr. Ali Sartawi, Minister of Justice, spoke about the university's efforts in supplying the community with specialists. He also spoke about the impact of the siege on the community and the steadfastness of the university, whose projects have stayed on course despite the difficulties.
At the end of the ceremony, which took place in HRH Turki Bin Abdul Aziz Theatre, the guests visited the Faculty of Optometry for the opening of the clinic, and had the opportunity to view the available facilities.