Injured Nablus boy returns to Dubai for eye operation

Bahaa Salim, the injured Palestinian boy who was in Dubai to rebuild his eye socket in preparation or an artificial eye has returned to the UAE to continue his treatment.

Dr Christoph H Reuter, Chief of Plastic and Crania Facial surgery at Mafraq Hospital in Abu Dhabi and Dr Andrea Sciscio, Consultant Oculoplastic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, will operate on him today.

Bahaa will stay for 10 days at Mafraq hospital and will need one week to recover with a host family.

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai is working with the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF) to treat the child without charge.

The boy was badly injured and lost an eye when a grenade was fired into his house in June 2006. The PCRF was made aware of Bahaa's need for reconstructive surgery to rebuild his left eye orbit and organised appropriate medical support.

"This is a great example of how people from all over the world can come together in the UAE to help heal the wounds of war and occupation," said PCRF President and CEO Steve Sosebee, currently in the UAE.

Dr Chris Canning, CEO and Medical Director of Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, said today's surgery would prepare the orbit, the bony socket of the eye, for the fitting of an artificial eye. "We will be able to assess his condition within two or three weeks and arrange a further assessment prior to fitting the artificial eye. The ocularist needs seven to 10 days to create a perfect match for his remaining natural eye," said Dr Canning.

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