Shifting Paradigms

Annual Report 2020

Derek Hodkey

President & CEO

We knew that urgent eye care needs would not slow down because of the pan­dem­ic, so nei­ther could we. Our long­stand­ing cul­ture of inno­va­tion meant we were ready to embrace new ways of work­ing – new par­a­digms – when it mat­tered most.”

Dear Friends,

Our Global Reach

When eye care professionals get the quality training they need, patients get the quality eye care they deserve. But for too many people around the world, where they were born determines whether an avoidable condition will take away their sight. Together with your support, we’re transforming lives for the people we treat and train.

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204

Countries and Regions Reached Through Cybersight

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61

Projects in 14 Countries

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9

Countries received virtual and in-person flying eye hospital projects

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13

Offices

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New York City Headquarters

Over the Past Five Years,
We Achieved the Following

Heroes of
Orbis

Our volunteers, partners and staff are who keep us running. In a year of unprecedented challenges, we were still able to achieve our mission thanks to this dedicated team. Here are a few of their stories:

Dr. Andrew Choyce - Staff Anesthesiologist, United Kingdom

Dr. Andrew Choyce - Staff Anesthesiologist, United Kingdom

Dr. Andrew Choyce - Staff Anesthesiologist, United Kingdom

When in-person Flying Eye Hospital projects were paused, anesthesiologist Dr. Choyce joined the frontline medical staff fighting COVID. “It’s comforting that the work I’m doing here in the UK is being replicated by so many of the people I’ve worked with over the last decade with Orbis. My thoughts are with them, and my efforts inspired by them.”

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Dr. Helena Hurairah - Volunteer Faculty, Brunei

Dr. Helena Hurairah - Volunteer Faculty, Brunei

Dr. Helena Hurairah - Volunteer Faculty, Brunei

Dr. Hurairah planned to be on the Flying Eye Hospital in Zambia in April, but instead embraced the power of telemedicine, creating online training modules when Orbis pivoted to a virtual project. She also stepped up to test patients for COVID-19 in Brunei.

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Captain Gary Dyson - Chief Orbis Pilot, USA

Captain Gary Dyson - Chief Orbis Pilot, USA

Captain Gary Dyson - Chief Orbis Pilot, USA

Captain Dyson flew the Flying Eye Hospital to the first-ever Orbis training project in the United States, in March. Once in-person training was paused, he began helping to keep the Flying Eye Hospital in tip-top shape by flying the plane to critical maintenance checks.

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Dr. Luz Gordillo - Pediatric Ophthalmologist, Peru

Dr. Luz Gordillo - Pediatric Ophthalmologist, Peru

Dr. Luz Gordillo - Pediatric Ophthalmologist, Peru

As the leading specialist in retinopathy of prematurity, a cause of childhood blindness requiring immediate care, Dr. Luz Gordillo knew the pandemic could have a dire effect on children’s eye care. She didn’t let that stop her. Driving two hours with a government pass amid travel restrictions, she continued her sight-saving work throughout 2020.

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Xiao Ying Liu - Orbis Staff Nurse, China

Xiao Ying Liu - Orbis Staff Nurse, China

Xiao Ying Liu - Orbis Staff Nurse, China

Nurse Liu is one of the many clinical Orbis staff who made virtual Flying Eye Hospital projects possible, leading nursing courses and lectures on Cybersight. She also published an article in a peer-reviewed medical journal to help other nurses fight COVID-19 through sterilization and infection control.

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Dr. W. Lee Alward - Volunteer Faculty, USA

Dr. W. Lee Alward - Volunteer Faculty, USA

Dr. W. Lee Alward - Volunteer Faculty, USA

Dr. Alward jumped right in to volunteer for our first-ever virtual Flying Eye Hospital project, in Zambia, and a later project in Mongolia. An ophthalmologist for more than 33 years, and an Orbis volunteer for 20, Dr. Alward loves helping others build their skills to treat glaucoma.

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Bekelech - Health Worker, Ethiopia

Bekelech - Health Worker, Ethiopia

Bekelech - Health Worker, Ethiopia

Bekelech was part of the Orbis team that administered 7.5 million doses of antibiotics to fight trachoma, an infectious cause of blindness. “Thanks to my Orbis education, I’m able to identify trachoma patients. If someone’s eyes are irritated or their eye discharge contains mucus, I will refer them to a hospital or health center for further care”.

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Dr. Suma Ganesh - Head of Pediatric Ophthalmology, India

Dr. Suma Ganesh - Head of Pediatric Ophthalmology, India

Dr. Suma Ganesh - Head of Pediatric Ophthalmology, India

For over 20 years, Dr. Ganesh has grown from student to teacher with Orbis. She leads a renowned fellowship for doctors around the world; it normally combines in-person and virtual training. She kept the program going strong during the pandemic on Cybersight. “Thanks to Cybersight, they are always there with me” she says of her students.

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Dr. Shamsiya Murat - Pediatric Ophthalmologist, Mongolia

Dr. Shamsiya Murat - Pediatric Ophthalmologist, Mongolia

Dr. Shamsiya Murat - Pediatric Ophthalmologist, Mongolia

Dr. Shamsiya Murat performed cataract surgery on a patient named Marla at just 42 days old, making her the youngest person in the country at the time to receive the operation. She has continued to provide critical follow-up care for Marla and other young patients throughout the pandemic.

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Dr. Javed Farooqui - Volunteer Faculty, India

Dr. Javed Farooqui - Volunteer Faculty, India

Dr. Javed Farooqui - Volunteer Faculty, India

Dr. Farooqui helped lead a remote simulation course on the virtual Flying Eye Hospital in India. Participants received artificial eyes to practice cataract surgery and mentors provided feedback virtually. “This not only gives the training participants confidence to operate, but also makes the surgery safe and predictable for our patients,” he says.

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Stories From
Around the World

Teaching Eye Care Teams: Volunteer Faculty Keep Hope in Sight

Financials

At Orbis, we work hard to ensure your gifts are used as effectively as possible. That’s why 92 cents of every dollar we spend goes directly to increasing quality eye care and saving vision in the countries where we work.

HOW WE USE OUR FUNDS

92%

Program Services

4%

Management and General

4%

Fundraising

Where we work

30%

Africa

21%

Asia

35%

Clinical Services and Program Technologies

12%

Global Programs

2%

Latin America and the Caribbean

Sources of support

82%

Gifts-in-kind

17%

Contributions and Grants

2%

Orbis Affiliates

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