The Countess of Wessex, Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), is visiting Qatar with global sight loss charity Orbis, until Thursday, the British embassy said Monday.
The Countess will visit organisations and charities, and meet dignitaries who are championing eye healthcare programmes, in support of the IAPB’s ‘2030 In Sight’ initiative, it was explained in a statement.
The campaign seeks to highlight the scale of avoidable blindness, and to promote a collaborative, global approach to ensuring eye care and rehabilitation facilities are available to everyone who needs them, wherever they are in the world. While in Qatar, The Countess will meet Afghan women evacuees to learn more about the peacekeeping roles they play in their communities and also Qatari women in leadership positions. The Countess is dedicated to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and championing gender equality in all aspects of society.
British ambassador to Qatar Jon Wilks, said: "The return visit to Doha by the Countess of Wessex supports important aspects of the UK’s strong bilateral relationship with Qatar, including our humanitarian and health co-operation as well as a focus on women in leadership and women in peace and security. We are grateful for all the support Qatar has offered to make the visit a success."
In 2013, the Countess visited India and Qatar to highlight global issues around preventable childhood blindness. The Countess returned to Qatar in 2015 to mark World Sight Day, and further promote the need for support of global eye health programmes. Then, in 2017, the Countess visited Qatar once more, following her trip to Bangladesh with Orbis, to learn more about their sight saving initiatives.
British ambassador to Qatar Jon Wilks, said: "The return visit to Doha by the Countess of Wessex supports important aspects of the UK’s strong bilateral relationship with Qatar, including our humanitarian and health co-operation as well as a focus on women in leadership and women in peace and security. We are grateful for all the support Qatar has offered to make the visit a success."
In 2013, the Countess visited India and Qatar to highlight global issues around preventable childhood blindness. The Countess returned to Qatar in 2015 to mark World Sight Day, and further promote the need for support of global eye health programmes. Then, in 2017, the Countess visited Qatar once more, following her trip to Bangladesh with Orbis, to learn more about their sight saving initiatives.
