TRUJILLO, Peru, July 1, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Today, eye care nonprofit Orbis International began
a five-day on-site hospital training to enhance the skills of local
eye care professionals in treating glaucoma. Despite it being the
second-leading cause of blindness in Peru, there is a lack of necessary knowledge
for treating the disease.
Held at the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (IRO), the
leading specialized eye hospital in the rural La Libertad region of
northern Peru, the training will
improve the surgical techniques of ophthalmologists – who are often
the only specialists available for glaucoma care in the region –
and train nurses to support these critical surgeries.
The training is made possible through generous funding from Dr.
John E. Downing, an Orbis Volunteer
Faculty member and donor, and equipment provided by Alcon.
"Dedicated, on-site trainings can make a huge difference in a
rural area," says Dr. Doris
Macharia, Senior Vice President of Global Programs at Orbis
International. "When a hospital is the only option for specialized
care, it's critical that its physicians and staff are equipped to
handle both common and complex cases. We are grateful for the
support that makes this training possible. It will build
sight-saving skills that will ultimately transform lives."
Two ophthalmologists will receive hands-on training from Orbis
Volunteer Faculty member Dr. Gabriel
Lazcano Gomez, a glaucoma expert from Mexico. Four ophthalmic nurses will receive
practical training from Orbis staff nurses. During the training, 32
patients with complex glaucoma will undergo surgery. Given that
glaucoma primarily affects older individuals, any patients found to
have age-related cataracts will receive treatment for this common
cause of vision loss as well.
Participants will also learn best practices for educating
patients on eye health and preventive care, which is especially
important in glaucoma cases because blindness from the condition
can be avoided, but only with access to early treatment.
On-site hospital training allows eye care professionals to learn
new skills in their own work environment and with their own
equipment, promoting confidence and sustainable improvements in
patient care.
In Peru, eye care specialists
are concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural communities
underserved. The training at IRO aims to address this by enhancing
the care provided, especially for challenging cases. It will also
help IRO serve as a technical adviser for other ophthalmology
service providers and community health facilities in northern
Peru.
For more than four decades, Orbis has improved eye care access
in Peru through training,
fellowships, Flying Eye Hospital visits, and equipment donations.
While Orbis is active in improving eye care in four regions,
another 22 still need basic equipment and training.
About Orbis
Orbis is an international nonprofit delivering sight-saving
programs in over 200 countries and territories worldwide so that
individuals, families, and communities can thrive. Currently,
around 1 billion people across the globe live with completely
avoidable blindness and vision loss. For over four decades, Orbis
has been tackling this challenge by building strong and sustainable
eye care systems that leave a lasting legacy of vision. Orbis runs
dedicated in-country programs in Africa, Asia,
the Caribbean, and Latin America; develops and implements
innovative training and technology, including an award-winning
telemedicine and e-learning platform, Cybersight; and operates
the world's first and only Flying Eye Hospital, a fully
accredited ophthalmic teaching hospital on board an MD-10 aircraft.
For the past 11 consecutive years, Orbis has achieved Charity
Navigator's coveted four-star rating for demonstrating strong
financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency,
placing Orbis in the top 3% of U.S. charities. For the past three
years, Orbis has earned GuideStar's platinum Seal of
Transparency. In 2022, Orbis earned "accredited charity" status
from the Better Business Bureau by meeting all 20 of
their standards for charity accountability. To learn more, please
visit orbis.org.
Media Contact
Jenna Montgomery
jenna.montgomery@orbis.org
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SOURCE Orbis International