Noor Dubai launches drive to emphasise tolerance
In line with the Year of Tolerance, Noor Dubai Foundation launched Tolerance in Sight, a medical and awareness campaign that aims to provide medical checkups in various religious institutions such as churches and mosques across the UAE.
His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, declared the year 2019 as the Year of Tolerance, highlighting the UAE as a global capital for acceptance through its legislative and policy goals.
As part of the campaign, the foundation will provide free eye screening by its award-winning UAE outreach programme, the Mobile Eye Clinic.
In collaboration with Dubai Health Authority, the campaign will also provide dental checkups, general medical checkups and a blood donation drive.
In addition to providing medical checkups, the campaign aims to instil the spirit of tolerance by creating opportunities of dialogue and communication between different cultures and faiths.
In accordance with the directive of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, Noor Dubai Foundations programmes and initiatives aim to fulfil its vision of helping those in need while ensuring it solidifies our leadership’s vision of intolerance and dialogue between various cultures and civilisations. Since the launch of Noor Dubai in 2008 by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Foundation provides eye care assistance to those areas in need irrespective of race, religion, or culture, said Dr Manal Taryam, CEO and Board Member of Noor Dubai Foundation.
Dr Manal Taryam also praised the great role played by the UAE’S wise leadership, which calls upon its people to promote and consolidate the values of tolerance and to stand together to build their future.
The Tolerance in Sight campaign began its first activity in St Mary’s Church in Dubai and provided services to 400 individuals. Its aim is to provide vision screening to over 3,000 individuals through the Foundation’s local outreach programme and other medical services across various religious institutions all over the UAE.
“We are grateful for the support of the DHA Youth Council and we hope that these volunteering opportunities will deepen the values of tolerance in today’s youth,” added Dr Manal.
Over 40 volunteers from the DHA Youth Council including doctors, optometrists, and administrator staff supported the campaign.
Dr Khalid Lootah, resident physician and president of the DHA Youth Council, highlighted the important role played by DHA in spreading the culture of community service and guiding the youth whilst caring for their needs to develop their skills and enable them to reach their desired goals in the service of the UAE. He also added that medicine is a humanitarian service based on the values of tolerance and non-discrimination. The Youth Health Council of the Authority aims to establish these values in the daily practices of young people through participation in voluntary and community programmes.
Father Lennie J. A. Connully from St. Mary’s Church commended the Tolerance in Sight campaign. “UAE has declared the year 2019 as “Year of Tolerance”. As part of this the The Noor Dubai Foundation came to St. Mary’s Church Dubai with the offer of a free medical checkup and blood donation campaign. I should say that it was a huge success. The team was well qualified and well equipped to meet the occasion. Many of our people queued up because of the brand name of Noor Dubai Foundation. The team proved itself true to their name with efficient, caring and well-managed checks. I wish to thank them for reaching out to St Mary’s and making it their target group to share their abundance of humanitarian goodness. All good wishes from St Mary’s Catholic Church, Dubai.”
The “Tolerance in Sight” campaign will continue until the end of 2019 and will include visits to 14 places of worship in the country between churches and mosques in the various emirates.
The Tolerance in Sight campaign began its first activity in St Mary’s Church and provided services to 400 individuals. It seeks to render vision screening to over 3,000 people