HOUR VISION PROJECT
Table of contents
02
A hospital with wings
16
Mongolia
36
In Surgery
54
The team
A HOSPITAL WITH WINGS ORBIS 1 ARRIVES IN MONGOLIA’S CAPITAL CITY - ULAN BATAR
OF ALL EYE PROBLEMS ARE CURABLE
Orbis International exists to treat preventable blindness around the world. A dedicated team of staff and volunteers travel the globe restoring sight and passing on their unique skills to others. Since 1982 the team has worked in more than 74 countries, trained thousands of medical staff and helped millions to see again. Capacity building is at the heart of what Orbis does. The organisation endeavours to empower developing nations in preventing and treating blindness themselves. Orbis supplies medical communities with the skills, knowledge and resources they need to provide quality eye care that is both independent and sustainable.
Orbis does this by not only training doctors and medical staff, but by creating the infrastructure needed to prevent blindness. Their programs include strengthening hospitals and medical schools so that there is a place for new skills to be practiced, providing equipment such as digital retina cameras and microscopes so that doctors have the right tools to work with and advocating for legislation that puts eye health on the national agenda. The organisation also works to increase awareness that blindness is not a condition that has always to be accepted. If treated early enough, some of the most common causes of blindness can be prevented. This is of particular importance in developing nations where livelihoods, in addition to vision, are at stake. Orbis is specialised in paediatric eye surgery and endeavours to raise the level of children’s eye care in developing countries to not only restore sight, but to help individuals reach their true potential.
“They’re not just going in, performing miracles and leaving, they’re passing on this knowledge and their techniques so that people can continue their good work”. - Daniel craig
WHAT’S ON BOARD: Combining aviation and the latest in ophthalmological technology, the most amazing tool used by ORBIS in combating global blindness is an aircraft known as ORBIS One. A heavily modified DC-10, Orbis One is a fully self contained eye health and surgery training centre; an eye hospital with wings.
Standing in Orbis One is like being in no other aeroplane. Gone are the rows of ubiquitous seats with folding trays and magazine pouches, replaced by world class medical and training facilities. First class has been swapped out for a 48 seat classroom and economy replaced by two treatment rooms, one for laser eye surgery and the other for general ophthalmological surgery. Both contain state of the art equipment and are comparable in quality to facilities in the world’s best hospitals. A two way audio visual system situated between the classroom and the laser room enables real time interaction between trainees and Orbis’ surgeons as they work. Surgery can also be broadcast live to local hospitals via the communications centre in the plane’s tail. Orbis Two might, however, be a more apt name for the flying eye hospital. When Orbis International was established in 1982 the organisation was donated an out of service and somewhat dilapidated short-body DC-8. With a lot of work, imagination and donor funding, the plane was repaired and converted into the world’s first fully mobile eye hospital. Battling with a scarcity of replacement parts and the need for more space the DC-8 was retired in 1992 and the bigger and better DC-10 now known as Orbis One was inaugurated. Not an organisation to stand still, the current Orbis One will soon itself be replaced by an even roomier MD-10.
“Orbis is a global, educational organisation that not only restores sight to the blind, but also helps the world to see itself better.’ - Dr Hunter Cherwek, Medical Director, Orbis FEH
The current Orbis One has been specially modified to run in all conditions wherever in the world it lands. Water filtration, refrigeration and power generation, systems essential for a hospital, are all self-contained. As diesel is not always available at Orbis One’s far flung destinations, all systems have been customized to run on jet fuel from tanks in the plane’s wings. To say that Orbis One is unique in the world of medicine and aviation is an understatement. Aside from its predecessor, no other aircraft like it exists. Of the over 900 capacity building programs launched by Orbis since 1982, the flying eye hospital has played a crucial role in many. The ability to train in a state of the art facility anywhere in the world is what makes Orbis truly unique and enables them to empower local physicians to go on restoring sight long after the team has flown on to their next destination.
668,000 SURGERIES PERFORMED IN 88 COUNTRIES
FLYING EYE HOSPITAL VISITS ORBIS OFFICE LOCATIONS HOSPITAL-BASED PROGRAMS ACTIVE LONG-TERM PROJECTS
MONGOLIA In Mongolia, the vivid blue of the endless sky symbolizes eternity. The white of crisp winter snow represents the beginning of something new. Golden yellow is to be revered. Red, emblazoned on the countries flag, denotes joy, happiness and hospitality. To truly know Mongolia it must be seen. For those that can’t, Mongolia’s story can be shared through these colours; a story of an eternal land embarking on a new journey of wealth, with all that this entails, and the preservation of old customs, ways and values.
Standing upon the great open plains in the east, looking up at the slumbering mountains of the north or across the wind blown sand dunes in the south the timeless beauty of Mongolia’s dramatic blue sky is a constant frame to the landscape. Traditionally bound to the land by a nomadic lifestyle, Mongolians know their country as ‘Blue Mongolia’. Theirs is a land that has known various rulers and regimes, but until recently, has remained largely unchanged.
Landlocked by Russia and China, Mongolia is a vast country spanning 1.5 million square kilometres of Central Asian plateau. It has a population of 2.7 million people, though many more Mongols live in territories controlled by China. The people of Mongolia, known for their long wool padded coats tied with a bright silk sash and their sturdy horses traditionally lead nomadic lives and graze cattle on the steppe. The customary Mongolian dwelling is a ger, an ingenious felt covered hut that is light and portable but exceptionally strong and weather resilient. In the 13th century, under the leadership of Genghis Khan, the Mongol empire stretched from Korea in the east to Poland in the west and formed the largest single land empire the world has ever known. A lengthy period of Chinese rule followed the collapse of the Mongol Empire until Mongolia aligned itself with its northern neighbour and became a communist republic in 1921. After seventy years of communism Mongolia converted peacefully to democracy in 1992. Today, only 40 percent of the population remains Nomadic and one third of the total population live in the countries capital Ulan Batar. Solar panels and mobile phones have become common sites on the steppe alongside gers, cattle, and oxen and cart. Ulan Batar has become a sprawling metropolis of over one million people; a mixing pot of Mongolia’s past and future.
IN MONGOLIA HORSES OUTNUMBER PEOPLE 13 TO 1
HOW TO BUILD A GER
Between 1990 and 1992 Mongolia started something new. Following a peaceful democratic revolution a new constitution was signed, enshrining democracy, privatisation and the rights of individuals. Mongolia became one of the few true democracies of Asia. Relative to its neighbours Mongolia is a poor country and the withdrawal of the Soviet Union in the early 90s brought many below the poverty line. Since democratisation the state has intently courted foreign finance to exploit the countries mineral assets and as a result analysts expect the economy to grow explosively. Universal access to health care was also enshrined in Mongolia’s new constitution. The health care system has been modernised and the country now boasts the same number of medical staff per capita as developed nations. The Ministry of Health still needs support, however, and like Orbis, other international charities work in the country. Eye care is available in Mongolia, but like many developing nations is limited in scope. Training in specialist areas like paediatric care is sought after. Economic reform and the lure of wealth has been one of two big drivers that have brought many Mongolians off the steppe and into the capital. The other is environmental. Mongolia is no stranger to intense weather with extremes of 30 degrees Celsius in summer and 50 below zero in winter. Recent summer droughts and exceptionally cold winters killed thousands of cattle and left many families with no option but to move to the city and start again.
Migration to Ulan Batar is for most a permanent transition. The bulk of the city, however, exudes an eerie temporariness. Gers ring the city centre and, housing three quarters of the cities million plus residents, sprawl as far as the eye can see. Amenities are yet to catch up with the influx of inhabitants and life for many in Ulan Batar’s ger settlements is a hard one. Floods, a lack of underground sewage and dense winter smog are all challenges faced by residents. Plans now abound for improving conditions, but it will be some time before the countries promised economic potential trickles down in the form of services and urban planning.
A TRADITIONAL NOMADIC GER, NOW A PERMANENT DWELLING ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF ULAN BATAR.
By tradition golden yellow is a colour of reverence used to adorn venerable objects. Now gold, along with copper, coal, molybdenum, tin and tungsten are themselves to be honoured. Mining accounts for around 20 percent of gross domestic product and forms the basis of Mongolia’s visible new economy. Signs of new wealth are most apparent in Ulan Batar’s centre where Hummers and shiny Korean made cars vie for space on clogged roads and new money Mongolians spend their leisure time shopping for clothing and jewellery in expensive brand name stores.
How effectively Mongolia is able to exploit its mineral riches in the coming years will largely determine the rate at which the economy will develop. Its vast resources, small population and close proximity to China give Mongolia a comparative advantage over other developing nations. However, like its peers, Mongolia will need to develop carefully lest new found wealth alienates its people from their land and their traditions.
Despite the upheaval and change taking place in Mongolia, its people are still known for their warm hearts, generous hospitality and love of tradition. Foreigners note that Mongolian families take great joy in welcoming guests into their homes, sometimes overwhelmingly so, with all attention bestowed on the visitor.
In equal measure to Mongolian kindness is the nation’s love of timehonoured sports. Nadaam, the nation’s sporting festival, takes place once a year in July. Ulan Batar grinds to a halt for three days as residents take part in the spectacle. The festivities revolve around archery, horse riding and wrestling, known locally as the ‘three games of men’. So unspoilt is the festival that UNESCO rates Nadaam as an item of intangible national heritage. All three sports are a sight to behold. Unlike Olympic archery where officials stay well clear, Mongolian referees stand with confidence in the line of fire and, with their arms raised, sing scores back to contestants. Accidents are unfortunately common, but less than one would expect. Bows are still made in the traditional way of horn, bark and wood, and arrows are tipped with bone and trimmed with vulture feathers. Horses have a special place in Mongolian culture and horse racing is taken seriously during Nadaam with up to 1,000 horses competing. To ensure that competition is fair, jockeys are children between the age of five and 13. They race their mounts up to 30 kilometres over open grassland free of a track or course. The title ‘leader of ten thousand’ is bestowed upon the winner. Endearingly, the slowest two year old horse is dubbed ‘full stomach’ and sung a song of encouragement for next year. Wrestling is a scantily clad affair in Mongolia. Dressed in heavy boots, short shorts and a small open vest up to 1024 wrestlers enter the ring in the first day of competition at Nadaam. Unconstrained by weight limits bouts can appear decidedly uneven. Time is also unlimited and matches last minutes or hours. After two days one man, generally a very large man, stands triumphant and receives an appellation that reflects his prowess. A particularly legendary wrestler was once titled ‘Eye-pleasing Nationally Famous Mighty and Invincible Giant’.
The esteem for victors at Nadaam is a hopeful sign that age old customs will endure in Mongolia. However, with minerals instead of grazing set to drive the country into the future, the old ties that bond the people to their land will be drawn even thinner. The challenge for Mongolians will be to stay true to their way of life while their economy develops, to remember to look up at the ageless blue sky, to keep in mind the crisp white intentions of their democratic journey, to revere not all things of gold and to stay in touch with the rich red joy of the heart.
IN SURGERY Orbis One touches down in Ulan Batar loaded with a precious cargo corneas, lenses, ophthalmic equipment, and a multinational crew of doctors, nurses, pilots, flight mechanics, biomedical engineers, and administrators. During a three week stay the team of 30 Orbis staff and 25 international volunteers will train 150 ophthalmologists, hundreds of students and medical staff, and restore the sight of 150 patients, many of them children.
Bayasgalan, age six, has travelled more than 800 kilometres with her family for the chance to have her deteriorating eyesight treated. Along with hundreds of other patients she is screened for suitability. Priority is given to children, the bilaterally blind and those who could not otherwise afford treatment. Unable to see a meter ahead, Bayasgalan has congenital cataracts in both eyes. Inherited from her mother, congenital cataracts are passed from parent to child 50 percent of the time and are the most common cause of cataracts. A cataract is clouding of the eye’s normally clear lens. Congenital cataracts, if not treated early enough, can lead to permanent blindness as the developing visual system of the child becomes permanently stunted. Luckily for Bayasgalan Orbis surgeons can treat her cataracts. A relatively simple procedure that only takes about 15 minutes per eye is able to restore the bulk of her vision. Surgery involves first making a tiny incision in the surface of the eye next to the iris followed by removal of the clouded lens and its replacement by a synthetic lens.
While the surgery is simple, a backlog of cataract patients now exist throughout the developing world due to insufficient access to care. The UN estimates that 18 million people suffer from aged related cataracts making them the single largest cause of blindness in the world. The bulk of cases are located in Africa, Asia, China and India. The work of Orbis is critical in bringing training and resources to these regions so that that those needlessly losing their vision can see again.
BAYASGALAN’S RIGHT EYE IS MARKED FOR SURGERY
“IT’S AN EXPERIENCE I WOULDN’T MISS FOR THE WORLD” - DC
“IT’S A MIRACLE, YOU”RE GIVING CHILDREN THEIR FUTURE BACK” - DC
Surgery goes well for Bayasgalan and the following day her vision is immediately improved. Groggy and dressed in hospital pyjamas, with a sponge bob square pants plaster on her arm, she holds up three fingers to show that she can read the symbols on a chart several meters away. Her vision has increased from less than a meter to more than six and will likely improve further in the coming weeks. Formerly dependant on the care of her grandmother, Bayasgalan now has the miraculous opportunity to develop independently and pursue the livelihood of her choice. Of equal importance she can again know her mothers face, play games with her friends, see the landscape and enjoy the vivid blue of the endless Mongolian sky.
Two more children successfully treated by the Orbis team are Moungshu and Khaserdene. Brought by their families in the hope that they would see again, both now have their vision and their futures back. Munkshult (above left) was unable to see out of one eye due to scar tissue over the iris. Unlucky when playing, he had been hit in the eye by an arrow and without surgery would have gone through life with vision in only one eye.
Khaserdene, (above right) like Bayasgalan, had thick bilateral cataracts. Lacking expert knowledge of paediatric eye surgery, no hospitals in Mongolia had offered to treat him. Under the expert guidance of Orbis surgeons, local doctors were able to restore his sight in both eyes, preventing a dark future. Munkshult and Khaserdene are just two of the millions of children worldwide who can see again thanks to Orbis. Millions more still need treatment. The tireless mission of Orbis is to go on raising eye care capacity around the world until all nations can treat their own people and a life of unnecessary blindness is suffered by no one.
6,813,739 PATIENTS CURED, AND COUNTING...
THE TEAM
500 FACULTY MEMBERS A faculty of 500 medical experts and a small crew of aircraft pilots, mechanics and technicians make the sight-saving work of Orbis possible through the generous donation of their time and skills. Dedicated to the preservation and restoration of sight, the Orbis faculty comprises experts in eye care from around the world. The volunteer crew of Orbis One, some still working and some retired, ensure that the world’s only flying hospital arrives in good order whenever and wherever it is needed. Like the Nomads of the Mongolian steppe, the volunteers of Orbis International are regularly on the move from one destination to the next.
DR. ALTANKHUU MOLON
DR. CHULUNBAT TSENGELMAA
Ulan batar’s mother and daughter team of opthamologists at the Mother & Child hospital.
700 POUNDS OF TEDDY BEARS
DANIEL CRAIG “Ours is a largely visual medium, and we never take the great gift of sight for granted. Knowing that we can make real contributions to eye health in the parts of the world where it’s most needed has been all the motivation we have needed to initiate this project.”
THE DE VILLE
HOUR VISION BLUE The OMEGA Hour Vision Blue watch is not only a remarkable timepiece. It is also a tool created to help ORBIS International in its fight against the global problem of preventable blindness. Part of the profits from the sale of the OMEGA Hour Vision Blue are donated directly to ORBIS International. In total, OMEGA aim to donate a minimum of 1 million US dollars to the organization over a period of four years.
“OUR ROLE IS TO ACT AS MULTIPLIER, AND FURTHER THE WORK THAT ORBIS ALREADY DOES SO WELL”.
MR. NICOLAS HAYEK CEO OF SWATCHGROUP
“I CAN ASSURE YOU, THERE IS NO BETTER FEELING THAN ENGAGING IN THIS KIND OF GIVING”
DR. ROBERT F. WALTERS COB OF ORBIS INTERNATIONAL
ON BEHALF OF DANIEL CRAIG AND ALL OF US HERE ON THE OMEGA TEAM, THANK YOU KINDLY FOR SUPPORTING ORBIS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST PREVENTABLE BLINDNESS.
Writing by Paul Carroll, Images by Richard Bullock, Raymond Coates and Greg Williams. Design and editing by Dario Nucci. Copyright OMEGA SA 2011.
For more information on this project and how else you can make a difference, please visit omegawatches.com/orbis or donate directly to Orbis International by visiting http://www.orbis.org