MANAMA – A Nepalese doctor has received Bahrain’s prestigious Isa Award for Service to Humanity for pioneering a mortality-reducing cataract procedure that has saved thousands of lives in his home country and beyond it.
The Isa Foundation announced the award last month, recognising Dr Sanduk Ruit, an ophthalmologist, for his contribution to devising a new method for treating cataracts.
“He was also able to develop a new lens implanted inside the eyeball that could be produced at a much cheaper price than its counterparts,” the Isa Foundation said. “This has helped him in performing cataract surgeries in less than five minutes, during which he removes the cataract without stitches through small incisions, and replaces them with a cost-effective artificial lens.”
Dr Ruit has more than 35 years of experience. He was given the award by Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa.
This is the fifth round of the award. The Nepalese doctor was given $1 million for his technique that has helped restore eyesight to more than 180,000 people in Bahrain and several developing nations around the world.
Addressing a ceremony for the handover of the award, King Hamad said he is happy to celebrate the humanitarian work of Dr Ruit, describing this work as ‘exemplary’.
He noted that the award aims to honour the life’s work of His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa.
“The award’s noble objectives embody his wise and dedicated leadership in advancing goodness and peace in the name of Bahrain,” the Bahraini monarch said.
“Throughout his life, he carried on with the approaches of the honourable rulers of Bahrain and the contemporary history of our country has credited him with the brightest chapters of the development and rise of our nation,” he added.
He said the Isa Award for Service to Humanity aims to fuse differences; create fair opportunities; alleviate pain, and overcome difficulties.
The King added that Dr Ruit’s exceptional efforts are only one of the vivid and shining examples of the role of sincere intentions in achieving prosperity and human peace.
On this auspicious occasion, he said, it is a pleasure to congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition of his valuable and influential works that have made him the worthiest recipient of this honour.
The King also expressed appreciation for the institutions and the individuals who applied for the award in its fifth edition.
He even wished them success in the future.
The King also expressed gratitude and thanked the Chairman and the members of the Award’s Board of Trustees, the Jury Committee and its General Secretariat for their notable efforts in embodying the noble messages of the Award.
“They have honoured and appreciated those whose work makes a positive difference, so that this initiative will be an inspirational reference that embraces every sincere endeavour that cares for and elevates human fraternity,” King Hamad said.
“We pray to God Almighty to help and bless such generous efforts, and pray for mercy to the patron of our human and civilisational achievements, the father of all, His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, may God rest his soul in eternal peace,” he concluded.
“Isa Award for services to Humanity” established in 2009 by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain. The Isa Award is granted every two years to either individuals or organisations who have been selected through a grueling process by an expert panel of jurists. These honourable individuals not only see pain, strife and hardships in this difficult world that we live in but are stirred to bring beauty where there is none, and hope where there’s despair.
The award has been named after His Highness the Late Amir of Bahrain, Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa.
This award is a gift from Bahrain to the world. It will also inspire countless young people in different parts of the world to look for innovative ways to change the world and play their role in service to humanity.
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