GE and Orbis offer eye screening for disadvantaged children in Vietnam

As part of this event, GE also committed to sponsor eye surgeries for those who are in urgent need due to the screening results and doctor’s idea.

More than 60 volunteers from GE Aviation and GE Vietnam joined and supported the event, together with the staff of SOS Children's Village Go Vap in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), doctors & staff of HCMC Eyes Hospital, Orbis Vietnam, representatives of HCM Children Protection Fund and Dong Nai Child Protection Fund.

“For more than a century, volunteerism has been a vibrant part of GE’s culture demonstrating the company's commitment to communities where we live and work. We coordinate our resources to create opportunities in areas of education, the environment, health, and advancement of community development. And this programme is a continuation of our commitment,” said Chris Drewer, general manager of Asia Pacific Sales for GE Aviation.

 “We’re impressed with Orbis’ effort in sight saving and blindness prevention worldwide. Hence, we are delighted to join hands with Orbis to provide eye disease screening and eye health training for Vietnamese children,” he added.

Dang Thi Huong, director of SOS Children's Village Go Vap said “Eyes are the window to the soul, and children are the future of the nation. Eye care for the children translates into care for the nation. We would like to thank GE and Orbis for their support in eye screening and the donation of eye surgery for the children. We hope they will continue their significant work for Vietnamese children in the future.”

In fact, approximately half a million people including 23,000 children in Vietnam are blind due to poor vision care, lack of infrastructure, a shortage of trained ophthalmic professionals and limited access to affordable sight-saving services.

Children’s eyes are still growing and require different treatment than adult eyes. If their eye problem have not been identified early and treated appropriable, children eye likely to become blind at a faster rate than adults due to eye dieses.

The majority of these children could have their vision restored or prevented if they had access to appropriate eye care services and prevention interventions in the right time.

Thus, eye screening is essential for early diagnosis and treatment of any problems that may crop up.

The Eye Screening Day also included thematic talks on eye heath awareness for the children and staff of the orphanage,

GE was one of the first American companies established in Vietnam after the US Embargo was lifted in 1993. GE provides Vietnam a unique company-to-country approach, helping the country establish a stronger global presence.

Orbis is a nonprofit organisation that prevents and treats blindness through hands-on training, public health education, improving access to quality eye care, advocacy and partnerships with local health care organisations.