EMR Shines: Celebrating Achievements in 2024

The Eastern Mediterranean region has much to celebrate! 2024 was a year filled with remarkable achievements by our region, demonstrating our collective commitment to eliminating avoidable blindness and improving eye health across the region.

Let’s take a moment to recognize some of the outstanding contributions:

Inspiring Innovation:

• Global Winner (6-12): Vision Friend by Lama Albadeen (Saudi Arabia)

Eight-year-old Lama Albadeen from Saudi Arabia captured hearts and minds with her innovative “Vision Friend” glasses. Designed to help people with low vision or blindness navigate safely, these glasses use a camera and sensors to detect obstacles, alerting the wearer through sounds and vibrations. Lama’s ingenuity and focus on practicality and eco-friendly materials make her a true inspiration.
Capturing the Moment:

• World Sight Day Photo Competition 2024 Professional Winner: Abdullah Almajed (KKESH&RC)

Abdullah Almajed’s winning photograph beautifully captured the spirit of World Sight Day. The image showcases children enjoying paper eyeglasses after receiving eye exams during a screening campaign at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital. This powerful image serves as a reminder of the importance of accessible eye care for all.

Leading the Way:

• Young Systems Leader Award Winners:

The EMR is proud to have two exceptional individuals recognized as IAPB’s Young System Leader Award Winners in 2024:

• Fatma Shakarchi (Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, Geneva, Switzerland / Baghdad, Iraq): Shakarchi has made significant contributions to advancing the eye health agenda in prominent global forums, including UNESCO, the Red Cross Red Crescent, and the UN. Her work on integrating technology into eye care delivery and her dedication to health equity are truly inspiring.
• Fatima Zehra (Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust, Pakistan): With over a decade of experience in eye health and social inclusion, Fatima Zehra has worked tirelessly to enhance health systems through cross-sectoral collaborations and innovative solutions. Her dedication to inclusive eye health practices and her work in developing inclusive eye health programs have made a significant impact.

We are incredibly proud of our members’ contributions to advancing eye health and look forward to another year of progress and success in 2025.