~ ORBIS Ireland call for volunteers to help them in their race against trachoma ~ ORBIS Ireland is today (Monday June 22nd 2009) looking for volunteers to run 10k at 10,000 feet in the Great Ethiopian Run in Ethiopia in November of this year. The funds raised from the Great Ethiopian Run will help Obis Ireland to reach its vision of eliminating the blinding disease, trachoma in some of the poorest regions of southern Ethiopia by 2012.
ORBIS Ireland is a charity working to eliminate preventable blindness and restore sight to rural villagers in Ethiopia by 2012. Over a third of children in Ethiopia are affected by trachoma, a blinding yet completely preventable eye disease. A disease of poverty, it was only eradicated from Ireland in the 1930s and was often a reason for Irish people being turned away at Ellis Island.
Now ORBIS Ireland are working to bring 150 Irish volunteers to Ethiopia to take part in the Great Ethiopian Run. The experience will see volunteers running at high altitude in Addis Ababa, the world’s third highest capital along side legendary runners such as Haile Gebrselassie and Richard Nerurkar.
“For every person who runs the race over 100 people’s sight will be restored. These areas of Ethiopia have no primary eye care, a simple surgery can transform people’s lives,” said Des Cahill, RTE who will also run the race in November.
.
ORBIS Ireland want to save the sight of 70,000 people in these regions of Ethiopia. “If we don’t succeed in our aim, another 70,000 will go blind over the next five years,” said Dr Moss Cox, Chairman ORBIS and founder of The Well, speaking at the launch.
Trachoma is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the world. A disease of poverty, it is a highly infectious disease and affects women and children mainly. Globally, 84 million people suffer from trachoma and nearly 8 million people are visually impaired as a result of the disease.
ORBIS Ireland implements the World Health Organisation’s integrated SAFE strategy comprising of surgery, antibiotics, face washing and environmental change.
To find out more about the Great Ethiopian Run call Diane Weatherup on 01 – 293 3060 or email diane.weatherup@ie.ORBIS.org or log on to www.ORBISireland.ie
Ends
THE JOURNEY – THE GREAT EHTIOPIAN RUN
Friday 20 November
Arrive in Addis Ababa. Attend ORBIS welcome reception and visit ORBIS projects.
Saturday 21 November
City tour of Addis Ababa followed by an excursion to the Ethiopian countryside.
Sunday 22 November
Great Ethiopian Run! Rest… Traditional Ethiopian Dinner
Monday 23 November
Free time to explore more of Addis Ababa. Depart for Dublin
About ORBIS
ORBIS Ireland is part of ORBIS International – a nonprofit global development organisation working to eliminate avoidable blindness in the world’s most poverty stricken regions. Over the last 26 years a staggering 6.8 million people in different countries have had their sight saved or restored as a result of our work.
ORBIS Ireland was founded by a group of committed volunteers in 2001, following years of successful fundraising throughout the country. From the beginning ORBIS Ireland’s efforts have been centred on Ethiopia, specifically the Gamo and Gofa and surrounding regions which are among the country’s poorest and worst affected by avoidable blindness.
• Eradicating disease called trachoma in Southern Ethiopia
• Trachoma is a one of the commonest causes of avoidable blindness
• Classic disease of poverty, Only eradicated in Ireland during the 1930’s – common cause for Irish Immigrants to be turned away in Ellis Island
• Chlamydial type infection of the eyes – causes the eye-lids to turn in on themselves and scratch the front of the cornea – excruciating pain which after multiple infections causes corneal scarring and blindness
• We are targeting the Gamo Gofa region of Ethiopia – 2 million people – 40% have the trachoma infection – 70,000 are blind as a result – if we do nothing another 70,000 will go blind over the next 5 years
• Solution – SAFE strategy (part of WHO program) comprising
o Surgery
o Antibiotic Distribution (Zithromax) which Pfizer have donated ($80m worth)
o Face washing which breaks the lifecycle of the disease
o Environmental change – improved sanitation (lantrines) and water supply (only 20% of the population live within 5km of a safe source of water)
• Biggest SAFE program ever taken on in the world but its working and scientifically validated (see paper)
• We need to raise €6m – 2.5m raised to date