Don't turn a blind eye to the world's fastest growing refugee crisis. Give sight to the Rohingya (Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals) in Bangladesh and help them be independent.
Many ethnic Rohingya Myanmar nationals are forcibly displaced after their villages are burned down by the local military and citizens, after their friends and family were killed or raped.
It is estimated that 626,000 refugees have fled to Bangladesh from August to December 2017.
The United Nations term this as the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world and the concentration of refugees in Cox’s Bazar is now amongst the densest in the world.
Orbis visited the refugee sites at Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh and had meetings with many International Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Qatar Fund for Development asked Orbis to devise a programme to help those struggling with vision loss within the camps as part of Qatar Creating Vision, an initiative led by us.
At a preliminary screening of 461 refugees, we found that 100 of them were blind from cataracts.
295 patients received medicine and refraction was done for 111 people including 10 children. Glasses were provided on the spot to 25 adults.
At the end of the screening 39 adult cataract patients were brought to our partner hospital at Cox’s Bazaar for surgery.
Living without their eyesight, especially during this crisis, leaves them vulnerable.
It is reported that Rohingyas do not have access to eye care services in Myanmar. Orbis hopes to provide surgery, antibiotics and spectacles to these individuals and many more. Cataract can be easily removed with a quick and low-cost surgery.
With clear vision, they will be able to gain independence and will be undoubtedly useful if they ever need to make any more crossings.
We'll also train community health workers and partner with hospitals to build skills and knowledge so that they can save sight in their communities and serve the local population in the future.
Under the project, Orbis will conduct free eye screening, provide medicine and spectacles and offer surgical treatment.
Orbis will also provide skill development training to frontline health workers and ophthalmic personnel so that they can save sight in the community.
We will establish vision centres outside the camp for the host community in Moheskhali and Chakaria, Southeast Bangladesh. A mobile unit will work at camp areas to conduct primary screening of children and adults in the temporary camps at Ukhia and Teknaf.
We will address both emergency eye care needs of Rohingya people and service gaps exist in the host communities of Cox’s Bazaar district.
