FedEx Corp.-Sponsored Program Will Provide Intensive Cataract Training,Support Pediatric Eye Care, and Promote Awareness of the Leading Causes of Blindness
(New York) October 8, 2012 – With the generous support of FedEx Corp. – a worldwide transportation, e-commerce and business services provider, ORBIS' Flying Eye Hospital (FEH) - the world's only eye surgical and training hospital with wings, has landed in Ethiopia for a three -week training and sight saving program in Addis Ababa and Gondar focused on intensive adult and pediatric cataract training, improving pediatric eye care services, and promoting awareness of the leading causes of blindness in the country.
Working with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Ethiopian Society of Ophthalmology, the FEH program is designed to support the long-term work of ORBIS Ethiopia and offer skills exchange opportunities and training not only to Ethiopian ophthalmologists, but to the whole ophthalmic community including anesthesiologists, nurses and biomedical engineers.
“This is the fourth time the Flying Eye Hospital is landing in Ethiopia to support the in-country projects of ORBIS Ethiopia, providing a valuable integration tool for our long-term projects in the country”, said Dr. Ahmed Gomaa, Medical Director of the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital. “With the support received from our long–term corporate sponsor FedEx, this FEH program will intersect with national health care priorities by promoting quality eye care, development of human resources and technical expertise.”
In partnership with two clinical hosts, Menelik II Referral Hospital in Addis Ababa - a long-term partner of ORBIS, and Gondar University Hospital in Gondar, the Flying Eye Hospital program will increase the capacity of pediatricophthalmologicalservices, provide cataract training in multiple techniques, including phacoemulsification, and strengthen and promote institutional networking and skills exchange.
As part of a global initiative to combat preventable and treatable blindness, and in support of ORBIS' skills exchange approach, FedEx will continue their Fellowship Program and award a fellowship to a promising ophthalmologist to study at a leading global eye institute.The FedEx Fellowship began in 2006 and has since awarded fellowships to ophthalmologists from Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Peru, Kenya, the Dominican Republic, China, the Philippines and El Salvador.
“FedEx recognizes the importance of education and skills development. Sharing the same interest with ORBIS has lead to our strong partnership and coordinated efforts in making this initiative a success”, said David Ross – Senior Vice President Operations of FedEx Express Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa. “We are proud to support the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital's initiative as part of our commitment to proactively improve the quality of life in the communities we live and work in”.
ORBIS and FedEx Corp. – Delivering Sight Worldwide
FedEx Corp. has supported ORBIS for 30 years, providing millions of dollars of cash and in-kind contributions. In 2011, FedEx renewed a USD $5.375 million, five-year commitment made to ORBIS in 2006. It includes the extension of the FedEx Fellows Program that provides an opportunity for talented local doctors to receive the continuing medical education needed to address leading causes of avoidable blindness within their countries.
ORBIS benefits from the unparalleled FedEx global network and their aviation expertise to help the Flying Eye Hospital remain aloft. FedEx Express pilots volunteer to fly the ORBIS DC-10 to many of its medical programs and train other volunteer pilots, FedEx Express mechanics provide maintenance support, and FedEx Express team members around the world volunteer as part of the ORBIS humanitarian team as interpreters, welcoming and escorting patients to and from their surgeries, and assisting with patient screenings. FedEx also provides complimentary transportation services to move critically needed medical supplies to ORBIS clinics and programs worldwide, makes the FedEx Express flight training simulator available to train volunteer pilots, and supports annual safety checks for ORBIS' flagship Flying Eye Hospital.
About ORBIS
ORBIS is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization dedicated to saving sight worldwide. ORBIS prevents and treats blindness through hands-on training, public health education, improved access to quality eye care, and partnerships with local health care organizations. By building their long-term capabilities, ORBIS helps its partner institutions take action to reach a state where they can provide, on their own, quality eye care services that are affordable, accessible, and sustainable. To learn more about ORBIS, please visit www.ORBIS.org.
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services.With annual revenues of $43 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand.Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 300,000 team members to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com.
