The visiting delegation of the Red Crescent of United Arab Emirates (UAE) briefed the press about its mission in the country on Monday.

Speaking at the press conference held at the Corinthia Atlantic Hotel in Banjul, Ahmed Al Ali, leader of the team, said they are on a weeklong campaign against blindness and eye diseases in The Gambia.

According to him, their target is to treat 120 patients daily.

For his part, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Malick Njie said that the volunteers would be based at the Sheikh Zayed Regional eye care centre in Kanifing. The centre is, according to him, a centre of excellence. He applauded the team for complementing government efforts in providing quality health care to Gambians.

Present at the conference was the Director of Health Services and also Director General of the president’s Treatment Program Dr Tamsir Mbowe and Ansumana Sillah Manager National eye care programme who doubles as Coordinator of Health for Peace Initiative.