JEDDAH — Mohammed Tawfeeq Bellow, secretary general of the Ebsar Foundation, has said his organization has temporarily ceased its blindness combating program. Ebsar has defaulted in its payments to a number of hospitals due to shortage of funds, a local newspaper reported. During the past two years, the Foundation had treated 1,257 needy patients and is seeking to collect SR2.6 million to support 600 additional patients. Patients obtain reports of the cost from specialized hospitals or clinics and seek the assistance of different bodies to raise the required amounts. It is a cumbersome process that may take a long time. Health conditions of some patients simply do not allow this, while self-esteem of other patients prevents them from seeking charity. — SG
