Since 2011 the Avolon & Clifford Chance Dinner has raised over US$275,000 to support Orbis in providing basic eye care in Ethiopia. 

Imagine the world around you in darkness. For millions of people this darkness is a reality. Blindness takes away so much more than vision. It can impede your ability to gain an education. It can prevent you from finding employment. It can lead you and your family into a life of poverty.

285 million people worldwide are visually impaired, but 80% don’t need to be. A colossal 90% of these people reside in the developing world. 

Thanks to the support of people like you, Orbis continues to work on the prevention and treatment of the causes of avoidable blindness across the developing world. 

Access to quality eye care is one of the most effective and cost-efficient paths for reversing the cycle of poverty. Preventing and treating visual impairment empowers individuals. It allows them to become more active in their community and to contribute more to their family and their society.

The funds raised from the Avolon & Clifford Chance Dinner help to improve basic eye care in rural areas like Gama Gofa, Derashe and Konso in southern Ethiopia. Together we are completely transforming this region by eliminating the blinding eye disease - trachoma - from this region of two million people who are among the country’s poorest and worst affected by avoidable blindness. The impact of the Avolon & Clifford Chance Dinner is far-reaching and allows Orbis to continue freeing people from the threat of avoidable blindness. 

Trachoma is an eye disease born out of poverty, which is highly contagious and completely preventable. This disease has ravaged Ethiopia, needlessly robbing children and adults of their ability to see. Few people realise that blindness can result from a disease easily transmitted between infected and healthy eyes by flies, fingers or clothing, and a lack of clean water to wash. Ethiopia faces immense difficulties to meet the healthcare needs of its population, particularly in rural areas.

In order to eliminate trachoma from this region, Orbis adopted the World Health Organisation’s SAFE strategy which involves conducting corrective Surgery to reverse the effects of trichiasis; distributing Antibiotics to treat the initial blinding infection; raising awareness of the importance of Facial cleanliness to prevent the bacteria which causes the infection; and improving the surrounding Environment through access to clean water and sanitation.

Working alongside communities and professionals, Orbis provides the tools, training and technology for local eye doctors and health care workers to develop solutions to tackle avoidable blindness in Ethiopia. By strengthening eye care institutions, Orbis helps its partners to provide long-term, quality eye care services that are affordable, accessible and sustainable. 

Orbis is extremely encouraged by the downward trend in the prevalence of trachoma and the proceeds of the Avolon & Clifford Chance Dinner has helped to bring Orbis a step closer to their goal.  

There is more work to be done to implement the SAFE strategy. Orbis’ vision is ambitious but it is vital for the social and economic growth of this region. Orbis plans to leave the people of this region with the knowledge and skills they require to thrive independently and allow future generations to grow up free from the threat of blindness.

Orbis Ireland has a vision to eliminate a blinding and life destroying disease in some of the poorest regions in southern Ethiopia