UCL eye specialist leads humanitarian mission to restore sight in Bangladesh

Mr Mahi Muqit, Honorary Clinical Lecturer at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital, recently returned from a humanitarian mission in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where he and his colleague, Mr Niaz Islam, provided sight-saving surgeries to individuals injured during the 2024 protests.​

Invited by Bangladesh’s interim government and the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital (NIOH), the team assessed 120 patients suffering from bullet-induced eye injuries sustained during the July and August 2024 demonstrations. Of these, 24 patients underwent complex vitreoretinal surgeries over two intensive days.​

The mission not only restored vision to many but also exemplified UCL's commitment to global health and equitable partnerships. Mr Muqit and Mr Islam collaborated closely with local medical professionals, providing training to enhance NIOH's capacity for high-quality ophthalmic care.​

This initiative reflects UCL's ongoing collaboration with partners in South Asia, focusing on healthcare and capacity-building efforts.

Links:

• Visit the full article on UCL News: UCL eye specialist helps save sight of 24 wounded Bangladeshi students.
• See the full story on Moorfields Eye Hospital’s website: Moorfields surgeons save the sight of 24 wounded Bangladeshi students.
• Mr Mahi Muqit’s academic profile
• UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
• Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust