In Collaboration with Total E & P Syrie ..ORBIS International’s Flying Eye Hospital Returns to Syria and starts its Operations in Deir EzZor

The medical staff of ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital started in province of Deir Ezzor on Monday 14/2/ 2011 medical checkups for eye patients. Husain Arnus Deir EzZor Governor duing his visit to the Hospital stressed the Material and moral importance of the hospital doctors through distinctive surgeries and their contributions by providing lectures and medical seminars for the local medical and nurses and engineering staff in the province which will has a good impact on their skills .

At the invitation from the Syrian Arab Republic Ministry of Health, the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital returns to Syria marking the plane’s sixth return to the country and the second to the Al Assad Hospital in Deir Ezzor. Since its initial visit in 1997, ORBIS has expanded the scope of its ophthalmic training activities to include key cities across several geographical areas in order to comprehensively address the needs of the Syrian Ophthalmic community. Previous program locations include Damascus and Aleppo.

“ORBIS is very excited to return to Deir Ezzor and continue this skills exchange program with the ophthalmology staff from the Al Assad Hospital,” said Dr. Hunter Cherwek, medical director, ORBIS International. “We are inspired by the dedication of these medical professionals and hope this program is just one of many in the near future.”

ORBIS institutes a comprehensive programmatic cycle in order to help build the capacity of its partner hospitals and medical staff. The return of the Flying Eye Hospital enables ORBIS to reinforced specialized training received through fellowships and Hospital-Based Programs (HBPs) that are ongoing throughout the year. Utilizing this model, ORBIS aims to build a sustainable and expanding portfolio of capacity-building activities and offer the specialized training needed to address the causes of avoidable blindness in Syria. This Flying Eye Hospital program is an important continuation of this strategy.

To this end, ORBIS will conduct specialized clinics to address cataracts, glaucoma and pediatric eye diseases – all leading causes of avoidable blindness in Syria – and will address these issues from all disciplines of ophthalmology including training in ophthalmic nursing, anesthesia and biomedical engineering. Due to the unique location of Deir Ezzor, ORBIS offers regional participation for ophthalmologists from Iraq and other regions within Syria, which aims to extend continuing medical education further into this area of the world.

The mission of ORBIS is to save sight and transform lives. Throughout the world, there are approximately 45 million blind people. In developing countries – where 90% of the world’s blind live – access to ophthalmic services is extremely limited and, in many cases, simply unavailable. Up to 80% of blindness is preventable or treatable with proper medical attention.

Local Sponsorship Dedicated to the People of Syria
For the second year, ORBIS is proud to align with Total E&P Syrie in the fight against avoidable blindness in Syria. Total supported the ORBIS program in 2009 as a local sponsor, and does so again aligned with its company philosophy of taking part in initiatives to improve the health of employees and their families and throughout their local communities.

Since 2005, the Total Foundation and Institut Pasteur’s international network have pooled their efforts to spur research, train more health care professionals in emerging countries and develop local capabilities for fighting infectious diseases. Total’s support of the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital and its programmatic approach in Syria serves as an example to the commitment of Total’s philosophy and dedication toward local communities.

“In 2009, ORBIS doctors, nurses and staff showed their commitment, performance and devotion to its sight-saving programs in Deir Ezzor, Total recognized and appreciates this type of commitment,” said Jean-Louis Barjolle, Managing Director, Total E&P Syrie. “A commitment not only exemplifying the humanitarian spirit, but with a tangible impact on the ophthalmic community and the people it serves.”

About ORBIS International
ORBIS International is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing and treating blindness by providing quality eye care to transform lives. ORBIS provides the tools, training and technology necessary for local partners to assess their needs and develop workable and lasting solutions to the tragedy of unnecessary blindness. 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.