(From left) M Nurun Nabi, project coordinator of DUCECP; Dr Wahidul Islam, country director of Sightsavers; and Colin Risner, CEO of Shiree; exchange copies of an MoU in the Shiree office in the capital yesterday. Photo: Courtesy

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed yesterday to strengthen eye care services in selected slum areas of Dhaka and reduce avoidable blindness and extreme poverty.
The signatories are Strengthening Household Improvements Resulting in Economic Empowerment (Shiree), Sightsavers (Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blinds) and Dhaka Urban Comprehensive Eye Care Project (DUCECP).
Under the MoU, DFID project Shiree will mobilise poor people having eyesight complications to get eye care services and cataract operation through DUCECP till September 2013.
DUCECP is working with partner hospitals -- Ispahani Islamia Eye Institute and Hospital, Bangladesh National Society for Blinds, Salauddin Specialised Hospital Limited and Ad-din Hospital -- alongside 72 collaborative partners.