MESCA’s Mission and Activities
Hafezi explains, “We founded the fund in 2021. Initially, we planned to open a hospital but later decided to scale the idea. Through the foundation, we aim to support medicine in the country and promote the development of education, organizing training courses and clinical research.” The foundation primarily focuses on ophthalmological care but plans to expand into other medical areas.
Key Initiatives
The MESCA Foundation covers education, outreach, access to technology, and training. “We are already sharing best practices from around the world and adapting them to the conditions of Central Asia,” Hafezi notes. The foundation’s pilot project in Uzbekistan targets keratoconus, a leading cause of preventable blindness in children and adolescents. “Our group from Switzerland developed a technique to treat this disease. We aim to diagnose and treat it early and improve post-surgery vision quality.”
Impact and Collaboration
In August 2023, MESCA, in collaboration with a non-profit organization, screened 113 families and identified 65 children for further examination, finding keratoconus in three. The foundation also conducted screenings in Andijan, examining 248 families and identifying 20 children with suspected keratoconus. MESCA’s partnership with the Andijan State Medical Institute includes exchanging teachers, researchers, and students to advance medical practice.
Future Goals
Hafezi emphasized the importance of training in diagnostics, stating, “Training in diagnostics is crucial because even the most modern equipment requires skilled operation.” MESCA plans to train not only doctors but also nurses and technicians, introducing a training program for optometry.
Nikki Hafezi’s vision for MESCA is to foster a robust healthcare system in Uzbekistan, leveraging international expertise and local talent to improve patient outcomes.
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