Department of Optometry College of Health Sciences, Gulf Medical University (GMU), actively contributed to the Special Olympics UAE National Games 2026 through their participation in the OPENING EYES® HEALTHY ATHLETES PROGRAM, held from 6–8 June 2026 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Dr. Rizwana Hussaindeen, Associate Professor and Program Director of the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, College of Health Sciences, GMU, participated as the Clinical Director for the Opening Eyes® Healthy Athletes Program. She also served as the Clinical Director Lead (CD Lead) on Day 1 of the event, overseeing the overall coordination and successful implementation of the vision screening services.
Her responsibilities included volunteer orientation and training, coordinating clinical teams, overseeing screening stations, ensuring the availability of equipment and resources, and supervising on-site operations to ensure efficient service delivery.
Dr. Gopinath Madeswaran, Assistant Professor in the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, participated as a Volunteer Optometrist, supporting the vision screening activities and contributing to the delivery of eye care services for athletes.
The Special Olympics UAE National Games brought together athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities from across the UAE. As part of the Healthy Athletes® initiatives, the Opening Eyes® program provided comprehensive vision screenings and eye health assessments for People of Determination, supporting early identification of vision concerns and promoting better access to eye care.
During the three-day event, the Healthy Athletes program recorded 1,309 screening interactions. The Opening Eyes® vision screening team conducted 362 screenings, achieving the highest number of screenings among all participating health disciplines. Other disciplines included Special Smiles with 335 screenings, Fit Feet with 320 screenings, and Health Promotion with 292 screenings.
The active participation of Gulf Medical University faculty in this national initiative reflects GMU’s commitment to community engagement, inclusive healthcare, and service to People of Determination through outreach, health promotion, screening, and advocacy initiatives.
Commenting on the participation, Dr. Praveen Kumar, Dean of the College of Health Sciences, Gulf Medical University, stated, “I am proud to see our faculty members contributing their expertise to community-based initiatives such as the Special Olympics ‘Opening Eyes’ program. Dr. Rizwana’s role as Clinical Director reflects our university’s commitment to social responsibility and inclusive healthcare. I also appreciate the dedication of our College of Health Sciences team, whose continued involvement demonstrates GMU’s commitment to advancing healthcare beyond academic boundaries through initiatives that promote inclusion, accessibility, and community well-being.”
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 3: Good Health and Well Being; SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
