New Support from the David & Molly Pyott Foundation to Strengthen Eye Care in Zambia

The second phase of the project is set to begin immediately and comes after the completion of a successful first phase. Between 2019 and 2021, the David and Molly Pyott Foundation invested $2 million in the first phase, which bolstered the residency training program at our partner University Teaching Hospital (UTH)-Eye Hospital. Four new, and now practicing, ophthalmologists graduated directly as a result of this project and 11 more received best-in-class training.

Orbis supported a one-year fellowship for Dr. Ziporrah Phiri, who was already providing high-quality care to those who needed it and is now providing leadership and mentorship to the next generation of ophthalmologists at UTH.

As part of strengthening the residency program at UTH, Orbis established a post-graduate resource center, which includes a wet lab where residents can hone their surgical skills in a risk-free environment.

The first phase also ensured the provision of critical equipment and supplies, including PPE, along with raising awareness of the importance of eye health, reaching vulnerable communities and sharing best practices to improve national eye health policies.

With the continued support of the Pyotts, we are set to reinforce and build on the progress already made in the past three years.

Between 2022 and 2024, their $4 million investment will focus on addressing the lack of trained ophthalmologists, improving the quality of sub-specialty training opportunities, providing equipment and supplies for detection and treatment of eye conditions, and enhancing community education around eye care.

Fifty-two residents from our hospital partners UTH-Eye Hospital, Kitwe and Ndola will receive training, of which 29 are expected to graduate over the course of the project. Four doctors will receive sub-specialty training.

Over the coming three years, we will leverage our award-winning online mentorship platform, Cybersight, to support and supplement residency education, hospital-based training, workshops and fellowships.

Training will be provided for residents, practicing ophthalmologists, nurses, clinical officers, biomedical engineers as well as primary care practitioners and community health workers from tertiary hospitals to community health centers.

Through the next phase of the project, we will help raise awareness and increase demand for eye health through community mobilization alongside our partners.