ORBIS International, a non-profit global development organisation, is conducting an eye care education program in Myanmar for the ninth time from February 25 to March 7 at the invitation of the Ministry of Health and Mandalay Eye and ENT Hospital, according to the organisation’s website.

The program, which is being held in Mandalay, consists of eye experts from North America sharing their skills and knowledge with more than 60 local healthcare professionals.

ORBIS is also working with policymakers to educate the public on eye health and the prevention of blindness.

“There is a real thirst for medical knowledge in Myanmar, especially from the West. Since 1991 ORBIS has provided rare opportunities for the ophthalmic community to participate in international skills-exchange programs,” said Dr Hunter Cherwek, the medical director of the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital, which will conduct the program.

According to the ORBIS website, an estimated 252,000 people suffer from blindness in Myanmar, with the highest prevalence occurring in Rakhine State and Bago and Mandalay divisions.

The main causes of blindness in Myanmar are cataracts (63 percent), glaucoma (16pc) and trachoma (4pc).

Since 1991 ORBIS has conducted eight Flying Eye Hospital programs in Myanmar and more than 10 hospital-based programs covering a range of surgical and medical topics.

With the help of ORBIS, Myanmar established an eye bank in 1994 and is now a member of the international Federation of Eye and Tissue Banks.