ORBIS Southern Africa is a Cape Town-based affiliate of ORBIS International. ORBIS International is a nonprofit global development organization dedicated to saving sight worldwide.

ORBIS provides the tools, training and technology necessary for local partners to develop workable and lasting solutions to the tragedy of unnecessary blindness. By building their long-term capabilities, ORBIS helps its partners to take action to provide quality eye care services that are affordable, accessible and sustainable. Since 1982, ORBIS volunteers and staff have restored the vision and transformed the lives of more than 15 million people in 89 countries.

©Claire Louise Thomas

ORBIS Southern Africa's focus

The focus of ORBIS Southern Africa is to develop specialised services for children's eye health within the region. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest prevalence of childhood blindness in the world and yet very few adequate services or trained staff. ORBIS is developing specialised child friendly centres and working in partnership with community eye health programmes to build efficient referral networks for children with complex sight problems to be found, referred, treated and followed up on throughout their lifetime. The model also includes extensive training for the children's eye health team, procurement of necessary equipment and refurbishment of facilities to ensure a child friendly environment. ORBIS is currently developing paediatric ophthalmic centres in Zambia, South Africa, Madagascar, Tanzania and Ethiopia, click here to learn more. How does ORBIS bring sight to those in need? ORBIS provides the tools, training and technology for local doctors and other health care personnel to develop workable and lasting solutions to the tragedy of avoidable blindness in their country. By building up the long-term capabilities of eye care institutions (capacity building), ORBIS helps its partners reach a state where they can provide, on their own, quality eye care services that are affordable, accessible and sustainable. Essential elements of capacity building include: Training eye care professionals and health workers Introducing ophthalmic technology and related management systems Improving the quality and accessibility of eye care Programmes, projects and the Flying Eye Hospital ORBIS integrates capacity building, public awareness and advocacy into its action plan through several avenues: Country programmes ORBIS Southern Africa has responsiblity for the 14 countries with in the SADC region. Currently we have projects in Zambia and South Africa and are developing further initiatives in other countries ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital The world’s only airborne ophthalmic training facility serves as a focal point for educational programs and advocacy efforts. Onboard, eye care professionals from developing nations work side-by-side with the international ORBIS medical team to perform surgery, learn new skills and restore sight. Hospital-based training programs ORBIS conducts intensive specialised training at local hospitals year round and supports fellowships for talented partner eye care professionals to undertake advanced study with mentors at some of the world’s leading eye care institutions.  ORBIS Cyber-Sight® This cutting edge telemedicine initiative uses the Internet to connect doctors throughout the world with ORBIS volunteer ophthalmologists for professional mentoring, patient care consultation and online continuing medical education.  To date, ORBIS has trained more than 280,000 eye care professionals aboard the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital and in local hospitals. Offices with long-term programs dedicated to preventing blindness and restoring sight are located in Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, India, Vietnam and the newly opened Cape Town, South Africa office. ORBIS development offices are located in the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Macau, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.