Blindness is not just a health issue; it’s a gender issue. Around the world, 112 million more women than men are living with vision loss, including blindness. The barriers women and girls face in accessing eye care are complex – rooted in poverty, education, and cultural norms that restrict their ability to travel, seek treatment, or independence.
For this year's International Women's Day, we're excited to spotlight Dr. Michelle Le Cheminant, an anaesthetist and dedicated Orbis volunteer normally based in Guernsey. Michelle has volunteered with Orbis on six projects; most recently joining the Flying Eye Hospital in Mongolia.
We caught up with Michelle to learn more about her impactful volunteer work with Orbis and to hear her perspective as a woman in Science Technology Engineering and Maths.
"Volunteering with Orbis offers a unique opportunity, due to the strong emphasis on teaching and training. For me this is the aspect that provides the most job satisfaction and keeps inspiring me to volunteer. I’ve been incredibly privileged to receive a high-quality medical education in the UK and in low- and middle-income countries this access to medical education is far from guaranteed, particularly for women. I want to be able to share the knowledge I’ve gained and help others in their career journey.
A really special experience for me, was returning to Zambia in 2023 – 6 years on from my previous work there. Witnessing the transformation of the Ophthalmology department, just emphasised the importance of the long-term partnerships that Orbis builds."
"I think the first obvious challenge that all women in eye care face is the question of how to balance your chosen career with family commitments. Doing so requires a degree of flexibility, by both training providers and employers. But the benefits are certainly worthwhile.
Breaking down these barriers requires strong role models and this is where Orbis shines. Women make up a large proportion of their staff and volunteer faculty and this allows us to demonstrate the valuable contribution of female leaders in medicine. I think women in healthcare bring different skills and attributes, fostering a good workplace culture and creative solutions. Expanding the female workforce has additional benefits, as women in many cultures are more likely to seek healthcare from female clinicians – so it helps improve access to healthcare for women."
"On my recent project in Mongolia, the one constant throughout the week was my translator – a young female medical student, without whom I would have been unable to deliver my training!
She was gaining experience in eye care with Orbis during her University vacation time. We built a strong rapport during the week and had conversations on a huge range of medical topics. She was an inspiring and accomplished young woman, with a bright career ahead. She represents the next generation of female leaders in healthcare, and I felt privileged to have met her and shared her journey."
"One of the most inspiring women I’ve encountered during my whole career is Jacqui, one the Orbis staff nurses. I first met her in 2017 in Zambia, before I’d even started volunteering with Orbis.
I have never known such a hard-working and dedicated teacher. She has boundless energy, adapts to every unique setting with ease and on every project, she welcomes me back as part of the team. She’s inspired me to develop my teaching skills further and I always look forward to working with her."
Michelle (left) training local eye doctors onboard the Flying Eye Hospital last year in Mongolia. Your support makes these projects possible.
"Women are disproportionately affected by global blindness and visual impairment, and Orbis programs help to tackle this inequity.
For me the most rewarding aspect is to see Orbis providing access to eye care for women who might otherwise be left behind – elderly patients, often living in rural areas.
Improving vision in this group can offer a vast improvement in quality of life. I met and cared for such a lady on my recent Mongolian project and it’s a memory that stays with me. I can clearly picture her smile, as she realises her surgery has been a success."
"I would simply say – don’t hesitate. Medicine is such a rewarding and varied career path. There are a raft of different opportunities and something to suit every skillset. My field is anaesthesia, it’s a very hands-on job, with lots of practical skills.
My focus is to improve each patient’s surgical journey and ensure they achieve the best outcome possible. Having surgery is often an unsettling time for patients, and the role of their anaesthetist in offering clinical expertise and support is highly valued."
At Orbis, we’re fighting to break these barriers and give women and girls the eye care they deserve. One powerful way we’re doing this is through our women-led Green Vision Centres in Bangladesh and India. These centres are not just places of treatment; they’re hubs of empowerment. By training women-led management teams to run these centres, we’re creating jobs, promoting financial independence, and giving women the tools they need to lead their communities toward a brighter future.
Your support can change lives. Together, we can help end the inequality that holds women and girls back from reaching their full potential.
Donate today to help us create a world where no woman or girl is held back by vision loss.
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