Record Commitment Will Deliver the Gift of Sight to More People
Worldwide
FedEx tells ANN that it
will donate $5.5 million over the next five years to ORBIS
International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention
of blindness worldwide. This pledge represents the largest
contribution commitment FedEx has made to ORBIS since joining
forces more than 20 years ago to save sight.
"Nearly 37 million men, women and children worldwide are blind -
and 75 percent do not need to be," said Oliver Foot, president and
executive director of ORBIS. "The vast majority of world blindness
can be treated or prevented with existing therapies and eye care
resources. That's where ORBIS and FedEx come in. By working
together, we can deliver education, training and treatment where it
is needed most."
Blindness has profound human and socioeconomic consequences in
all societies, particularly in the developing world where lost
productivity, rehabilitation and education of the blind are
significant economic burdens.
"Leading health organizations estimate the direct economic cost
of blindness to be about $42 billion, yet treatments to prevent and
cure blindness are among the most successful and cost-effective of
all health interventions," said David J. Bronczek, president and
chief executive officer of FedEx Express. "That's why FedEx has
renewed and expanded its long-time commitment to working with ORBIS
to help eradicate one of the world's most devastating, yet
solvable, health challenges."
A Growing Problem
According to the World Health Organization, one to two million
people go blind every year. One adult loses their sight every five
seconds, and another child goes blind every minute. The leading
cause of blindness worldwide is cataract, followed by glaucoma and
then age-related macular degeneration.
"The only sustainable solution to the problem of avoidable
blindness is to provide medical communities in developing countries
with skills, knowledge and resources to prevent and cure blindness
on their own," explained Dr. Eugene Helveston, ORBIS chief
ophthalmologist. "The increased support from FedEx helps ensure
that we give more people access to much-needed eye care services
that industrialized societies often take for granted."
A Focused Approach
The new, multi-million dollar commitment from FedEx runs from
2006 through 2011, and includes financial, logistical and
operational support for ORBIS and its Flying Eye Hospital - the
world's only DC-10 aircraft converted into a state-of-the-art
teaching facility and ophthalmic surgical center.
The latest FedEx contribution is designed to enhance the
signature Delivering Sight Worldwide initiative developed by FedEx
and ORBIS several years ago. At no cost to ORBIS, FedEx has agreed
to:
- Create a new fellowship program - the FedEx Fellows - in which
ORBIS will award 10 medical training fellowships to
ophthalmologists around the world over the next five years.
- Support 10 ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital programs held in various
host countries, which are provided entirely free-of-charge to both
host countries and patients. The first of these FedEx-sponsored
medical programs is taking place in Danang, Vietnam from October
9-20, 2006.
- Provide employee-volunteer support during ORBIS medical
programs, and help increase awareness about avoidable
blindness.
- Deliver urgently-needed medical supplies to ORBIS program sites
all over the world.
- Manage the cost and completion of routine and critical
maintenance procedures, including the annual safety checks for the
ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital to ensure its airworthiness. FedEx will
also provide spare aircraft components as needed.
- Provide volunteer FedEx pilots to fly the plane to its
sight-saving programs, and train all other volunteer pilots.
A Record of Success
More than three million people have received direct medical
treatment since the inception of ORBIS in 1982. In addition, more
than 120,000 healthcare professionals have enhanced their skills
through ORBIS training programs in 85 countries.
It is through innovative programs and partnerships that ORBIS is
able to produce long-term, sustainable solutions to preventable
blindness that emphasize the training of medical personnel,
strengthening of in-country eye care institutions, and expanding
delivery of quality eye care and prevention strategies in the
developing world.
"FedEx has demonstrated its support of ORBIS throughout our
history, and this renewed commitment provides a terrific boost to
ORBIS in our 25th year of operations," Foot said. "The unwavering
generosity of FedEx helps us to confidently plan future programs
with increased impact and to ensure that other donations we receive
can be spent directly on saving sight."