Partnerships and Collaboration

There are around 253 million people on this planet who are suffering unnecessarily from blindness or poor vision. Working in isolation we wouldn't be able to make even the smallest dent in this shocking statistic, but by building a global network of strategic partnerships we can, together, hope to bring an end to avoidable blindness.

Partnerships are at the heart of all that we do. We have conducted 73 projects across 13 countries with whom we work with to identify and address problems ranging from a shortage of skilled eye health professionals to a lack of proper equipment and resources. We work with governments and health ministries to improve patient care standards and ensure our partners receive all the support they need.

By building long-term relationships based on trust and cooperation, we build the capacity of partners to find appropriate, sustainable solutions.We collaborate with other NGOs on the ground to help implement our vital program work. Fred Hollows and Sightsavers are just two of the organisations we work with to help fight trachoma in Ethiopia through the distribution of antibiotics and awareness raising projects.

We are a founding member of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight initiative, a worldwide effort to eliminate avoidable blindness by 2020. We are a member of the International Agency for International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness Prevention of Blindness, the G4 Alliance, and maintain official relations with the World Health Organisation, to advocate and implement quality eye care for all. We also support the Community Eye Health Journal, a publication produced by the International Centre for Eye Health, which provides expert insight and advice to thousands of eye health professionals across the developing world.

But our partnerships don't end there. Our comprehensive approach looks beyond the traditional health care system to reach community activists, teachers and traditional healers. We train trusted community members to spot the signs of poor vision and ensure there is a robust referral network in place so those in need get the treatment they deserve.

Together we will become stronger, more effective and more efficient.

We also partner with like-minded businesses and corporations who share our goal of ending avoidable blindness. The MD-10 aircraft that houses our Flying Eye Hospital was donated by long-term partner FedEx, and a number of amazing corporate partners provided the equipment on board. Discover more by visiting the virtual reality tour of the Flying Eye Hospital and clicking the icon in the top right corner.

Our partners are all part of the Orbis family. A family which includes you, our wonderful supporters, right at the heart of it. None of this would be possible without your help.

If you continue to support us, we'll continue to form partnerships that create lasting change for eye health across the globe.