The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Some 750,000 adults and 40,000 children are blind in Bangladesh. 1.5 million adults and children are visually impaired.

Cataract, childhood blindness, corneal infection and trauma, uncorrected refracted error, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma are the major causes of blindness in the country.

This was disclosed at a press meet organised by Orbis International, a non-profit global development organisation dedicated to saving sight worldwide, at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday.

Ann Marie Gothard, Director of Global Communications and Branding of Orbis International, was present as chief guest, while Taskina Huq, Communication Officer of Orbis Bangladesh, presented keynote paper.

Dr Abu Raihan, Country Director of Orbis International, among others, spoke at the press meet.

Ann Marie said, "Some 37 million men, women and children are currently blind in the world and 28 million of them are suffering needlessly."

"We have a vision that is named 'Vision 2020: Right to Sight.' Under the vision our core approaches to the prevention of blindness and visual impairment are disease control, monitoring and evaluation, human resources and organisational development, infrastructure and technology and community partnership," she said.

"Orbis International is giving more priority in comprehensive eye care and blindness prevention efforts in five countries - Bangladesh, India, China, Vietnam and Ethiopia. We will work with partner institutions to help them reach a state where they can provide, on their own, quality eye care services at affordable, accessible and sustainable costs," said Ann.

In Bangladesh, Orbis has established seven child friendly paediatric eye care units. These are in Chittagong, Dhaka, Dinajpur, Khulna, Maulvibazar, Mymensingh and Sylhet, she said.

After the support of Orbis to Sandhani, cornea collection of Sandhani has increased by 153 per cent in Bangladesh, said Taskina.

"4,000 cataract patients will receive surgery and treatment in the country in support with Orbis in four years, she added.