Orbis becomes a voice for eye health in global surgical alliance

Press Release: Geneva, Switzerland (May 19, 2017) – Orbis, an international NGO and pioneer in the prevention and treatment of blindness for over 30 years, has joined the Global Alliance for Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma and Anaesthesia (the G4 Alliance), as their first member in ophthalmology. The G4 Alliance is a coalition of more than 80 of the world’s leading surgical, obstetric, trauma, and anesthesia care organisations. The new membership will be announced by the G4 Alliance at their first permanent council meeting at the 70th World Health Assembly (WHA70) in Geneva on May 20 – 21.

The G4 Alliance was formed at the World Health Assembly 68 in 2015 to support the World Health Assembly Resolution “Strengthening emergency and essential surgical care and anesthesia as a component of universal health coverage”, which includes all ophthalmic surgery. Over the past two years, the Alliance has gained considerable recognition at both the international and national level, and is supported by its members from academia, international federations and societies, NGOs and foundations including the GE Foundation.

“As the first member in global blindness prevention to join, we are pleased to have the opportunity to add our voice to the incredibly important work that this global alliance does,” said Orbis Global Medical Director Dr. Jonathan Lord. “We are excited to show our commitment to the wider healthcare system, and are looking forward to the interesting cross-sector partnership and collaboration opportunities that membership allows.”

Orbis has followed the G4 Alliance’s journey from the beginning, given the heightened priority that global surgery has received in recent years and Orbis’s existing commitment to the Alliance’s pillars: advocacy, policy implementation and resource mobilization for access to safe, essential and timely surgical, obstetric, trauma, and anesthesia care.

“We are excited to welcome Orbis into the G4 Alliance at the 70th World Health Assembly as we work together to reach the almost 5 billion people who lack access to safe surgical and anesthesia care around the world,” said Brendan Allen, Executive Director for the G4 Alliance.

Dr. Jonathan Lord will represent Orbis at the official announcement at WHA70 this weekend.

To read more: http://www.orbis.org/news/entry/orbis-global-surgical-alliance