The New Nation - Internet Edition

The Executive Director of ORBIS International Geoffrey Holland called on President Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban. Country Director of ORBIS in Bangladesh Dr. Abu Raihan was with him.

Welcoming Geoffrey Holland, the President thanked him for visiting Bangladesh. He praised the role of ORBIS International, a flying eye hospital, for contributing significantly to the treatment of blind people, especially the poor, all over the world. President mentioned that the people of Bangladesh enthusiastically welcome the ORBIS activities here for providing ophthalmic treatment to blind people.

The Executive Director and the Country Director of ORBIS apprised the President of the activities of ORBIS in Bangladesh. They informed the President that ORBIS International is working here for the treatment of he blind people including prevention of child blindness, operating Eye Banking (cornea collection, preservation, distribution and plantation) and providing training to the eye physicians and nurses, It provides eye treatment through the National Institute of Ophthalmology (NIO), Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Islamia Eye Hospital and 'Sandhani' in Bangladesh.

They informed the President that ORBIS Interantional is working Bangladesh since 1985 and till 2005 it visited Bangladesh for times. The country Director apprised that ORBIS has a plan to provide eye care to the slums people in urban areas through Government run Urban Primary Health Care Project He also informed the President about their plan to make collaboration with BIRDEM Hospital for providing Ophthalmologic treatment to the diabetic patients separately. They sought cooperation from the President in running their activities. The Executive Director of ORBIS International Geoffrey Holland thanked the President for giving time and hearing.

Press Secretary Abdul Awal Howlader and Asst Military Secretary to the President Lt Colonel Mamun or Rashid were present on the occasion.