New virtual training tackles leading cause of blindness in Mongolia
The six-week virtual Flying Eye Hospital project will allow participating nurses to deepen their skills in cataract examinations and surgeries, communicate effectively with patients and control infections. Training will be delivered through live lectures, which will be led by Orbis volunteer faculty (medical experts) and conducted in English with subsequent translation into Mongolian.
Raynald AeschlimannPresident and CEO of OMEGA said, “It is a great honor to support Orbis in its incredible work around the world. We especially know how important their training programs can be, and since the beginning of our partnership in 2011, we have seen the truly positive impact that these projects can have. For this latest virtual training in Mongoliawe particularly admire the dedication and spirit of innovation involved, and wish all nurses every success in putting their expertise to use. »
Access to quality cataract treatment remains a major challenge in Mongolia, particularly in rural areas; nine out of ten cataract surgeries are performed in the urban center of Ulaanbaatar, the capital. What’s more, Mongolia has one of the lowest cataract surgery rates per capita of all Asia. It is estimated that only 56% of patients who need cataract surgery have received it, and visual outcomes remain below international standards for those who do.
Empowering and supporting all local practitioners, in rural and urban areas, is key to ensuring patients receive the best possible care and a significant step in democratizing and strengthening eye care systems. That’s why Orbis is committed to training nurses and other eye care professionals, in addition to ophthalmologists. Evidence shows that well-trained nurses play a critical role not only in preventing complications during surgery, but also in ensuring positive outcomes for patients overall. Nurses are often the first line of contact for patients to understand the procedure they are about to undergo as well as follow-up care.
“For many of us, it’s hard to imagine losing our sight because we couldn’t have cataract surgery, but it’s a reality for too many people in the world where eye care remains hard to find,” said Derek Hodkey, President and CEO of Orbis International. “One of the best ways to address this is to ensure that every member of eye care teams in these areas can access quality training, which we are doing with the support of partners like OMEGA.
Swiss watchmaker OMEGA has been proud to support Orbis since 2011, when it became a Global Corporate Partner. With the passionate support of the Flying Eye Hospital, OMEGA has helped Orbis in its mission to mentor, train and inspire local teams so they can save sight in their communities. OMEGA also works in cooperation with its brand ambassadors, including Daniel Craig, Cindy Crawford and others – to raise awareness of Orbis and its mission. Craig and Crawford participated in Orbis programming in Mongolia and Peru, respectively, first-hand witnesses to the life-changing work of Orbis. In addition, OMEGA provides teddy bears to all young patients undergoing treatment and also donates part of the profits from Orbis watches specially dedicated to Orbis and the Flying Eye Hospital. Now as exclusive title sponsor of the recently launched virtual Flying Eye Hospital project, OMEGA continues to play a vital role in preventing avoidable blindness around the world.
The Flying Eye Hospital at Orbis is the only fully accredited eye teaching hospital in the world aboard an MD-10 aircraft. For nearly four decades, the Flying Eye Hospital has traveled the world to provide world-class training for eye care professionals in areas where the need is greatest. Due to the impact of COVID-19, Orbis redesigned its Flying Eye Hospital trainings as virtual trainings in 2020 to ensure eye care teams can still access critical training safely during the pandemic. Last year, Orbis’ Flying Eye Hospital virtual projects saw more than 850 registrations from participants from nine countries. Orbis plans to reach 20 countries through its virtual Flying Eye Hospital projects this year.
About Orbis
Orbis is a leading global non-governmental organization that has pioneered the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness for nearly four decades. Orbis transforms lives by providing the skills, resources and knowledge needed to provide accessible quality eye care. Working in collaboration with local partners, including hospitals, universities, government agencies and ministries of health, Orbis provides practical training in ophthalmology, strengthens health infrastructure and advocates for the prioritization of eye health in programs. of public health. Orbis operates the only Flying Eyes Hospitala fully accredited eye teaching hospital on board MD-10 aircraft and an award-winning telemedicine platform, Cybervision. Over the past ten consecutive years, Orbis has achieved Charity NavigatorThe coveted four-star rating for demonstrating strong financial health and a commitment to accountability and transparency, placing Orbis in the top 3% of US charities. In 2021, Orbis won GuideStarthe platinum seal of transparency. To learn more, please visit orbis.org.
About OMEGA
OMEGA is a prestigious Swiss watchmaker, member of the Swatch Group Ltd. Since 1848, the brand has been synonymous with excellence, innovation and precision, as well as a pioneering spirit, illustrated by the conquests of the oceans and space. In fact, since 1965, the OMEGA Speedmaster has been worn on every NASA manned mission, including all six moon landings. Moreover, no brand is more actively involved in sports timing. In addition to partnerships in golf, sailing, athletics and swimming, OMEGA has been the official timekeeper of 29 Olympic Games. More importantly, OMEGA has a tradition of excellence in watchmaking. This reputation was reinforced in 2015 with the introduction of the Master Chronometer certification approved by METAS, representing the highest level of precision, magnetic resistance and performance in the Swiss industry.
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SOURCEOrbis International