Online Reporter
Blessings Chidakwa in DUBAI, United Arab Emirates
HEALTH Ambassador, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa’s initiatives continue to receive global acclaim, with a leading Asian eye surgery foundation based in Dubai charmed by her works expressing interest in partnering the Government to improve the country’s health sector.
Dr Mnangagwa, who is in Dubai for the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit, met on the sidelines with one of the United Arab Emirates’ top ophthalmologists and CEO of the Noor Dubai Foundation, Dr Manal Taryam, who pledged commitment to collaborating with Zimbabwe in providing eye care services.
Among the services include launching preventative programmes such as free surgeries, eyeglasses and medication.
In addition to treatment, the Foundation also provides preventative and educational programmes, aiming to empower communities by reducing the burden and impact of blindness on everyday life.
The outstanding work being carried out by Dr Mnangagwa in complementing Government efforts to provide accessible, quality healthcare continues to draw international admiration, with organisations expressing eagerness to support her mission.
As Zimbabwe’s Health and Child Care Ambassador, the First Lady remains actively engaged in ensuring healthcare is both affordable and inclusive for all.
It is against this backdrop that the Noor Dubai Foundation extended an invitation to explore areas of collaboration in the field of eye care.
Dr Mnangagwa welcomed the initiative, emphasising that the health of the people is a national priority and stating that a healthy nation is a productive nation.
“When a nation is healthy then it prospers. A healthy nation gives more to its people. I want to say the foundation, Noor Dubai, is doing great. Zimbabwe must not be left behind.
“I work closely with the Ministry of Health and Child Care. You coming to work with us in Zimbabwe, is a great pleasure.
“You coming with these services will help our country and our population,” she said.
Health and Child Care Ambassador First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa and Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Mr Lovemore Mazemo during a meeting with Noor Dubai Foundation chief executive Officer Dr Manal Taryam in Dubai yesterday.
The country’s Health Ambassador, Dr Mnangagwa, also said investments in eye care, especially in addressing preventable conditions like cataracts, are crucial for poverty alleviation and socio-economic development.
“Also, when a country is developing, it has to protect its GDP by making its people’s well-being a priority. If they get this service, they will now be free again to do their work and build their families,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa, who is passionate about improving the country’s health sector, pledged to personally assist Noor Dubai in establishing a presence in Zimbabwe in her capacity as the Health Ambassador.
“I have a foundation which deals with so many things. It does a lot in the country, including in the health sector,” she said.
“The problems are the same. We have these problems like other countries do. So, if we get these services that our country desires remember, we are still a developing country we need services like these.”
Dr Mnangagwa also shared some of the projects she is leading through her Angel of Hope Foundation, as well as initiatives undertaken with the Ministry of Health in her capacity as Health and Child Care Ambassador.
She also shared her personal experience in the eye section of one of the health facilities in Zimbabwe:
“I saw doctors running around. Then I found a very long queue. I said to myself, is it just eyes only? When I went inside, I saw doctors doing their best to serve. So, eyes are very important. That’s what makes a human being.
“In our country, we look forward and continue striving to have better health services. We have our Ministry of Health, which does everything when it comes to the ailments of our people,” she said.
The First Lady also commended the strong bilateral ties between Zimbabwe and the UAE.
“I want to thank you very much for this meeting and also say a little more about the relationship between us and the United Arab Emirates. We have an excellent relationship and we want it to grow from strength to strength. The arrival of these services will help it grow to even greater heights.
“Remember when we had Cyclone Idai in one of the provinces of our country, the United Arab Emirates was the first to help us,” she said.
Dr Taryam, a seasoned eye specialist, heaped praise on the First Lady’s deep commitment to the well-being of Zimbabweans and expressed strong interest in beginning collaborative efforts soon.
“We are keen to start this year. We are going to work very closely with the Government in Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Health to customise and design a programme to treat the causes of blindness and also to work closely with Government officials to explore opportunities for sustainable programmes to serve the people of Zimbabwe.
“So thank you so much, First Lady, for giving us this opportunity. Thank you for caring so much about the people of Zimbabwe and about preventing blindness,” she said.
Dr Taryam also applauded Dr Mnangagwa’s inclusive approach, particularly her dedication to reaching underserved communities, stating that it aligns perfectly with Noor Dubai Foundation’s mission.
“When it comes to the outreach programmes that we do at the Noor Dubai Foundation, we usually work very closely with the local communities to try to reach the most remote areas where it is difficult for people to access good quality eye care.
“Because at the end of the day, that is the fundamental reason why we provide our services to the people. We would also like to reduce the amount of commuting that people have to do to access these services.”
Dr Taryam said that in their efforts to strengthen community healthcare systems, the Foundation prioritises the use of local medical personnel in every mission to ensure sustainability.
“We would like the local hospitals to be empowered to continue the work so there is no disruption in services.
“During our first visit, we usually go to a hospital selected by the Ministry of Health. We look at the opportunities to bring in more equipment and training. We assess what is missing and try to bridge the gaps as much as we can. This way, we ensure sustainability in our work,” she said.
Noor Dubai Foundation is a UAE-based charity focused on preventing blindness and visual impairment globally.
Since its inception in 2008, the Foundation has provided free treatment and preventative programmes to more than 33 million people across Africa and Asia. These programmes include surgeries, eyeglasses and medications.
Driven by a vision of a world free from avoidable blindness, Noor Dubai continues to offer therapeutic, preventative and educational services in developing countries.
Dr Mnangagwa has championed numerous health initiatives in Zimbabwe, many in partnership with global, regional and local organisations.
As Health and Child Care Ambassador, the First Lady has leveraged her platform to bring healthcare closer to underserved communities with a focus on maternal health, non-communicable diseases, cancer awareness and community empowerment.
