Qatar Airways takes lead in global fight against blindness
- Written by Roberto Castiglioni
For two years starting September 2015 Qatar Airways will be the official airline of global blindness prevention charity Orbis UK.
As the Official Airline of Orbis UK, Qatar Airways will be flying medical volunteers on duty to the airline’s destinations worldwide.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said: “Qatar Airways believes that global aviation acts as a bridge between communities and people and we are delighted to be able to support causes that affect individuals across every continent. We are proud to offer our support to Orbis UK to help ensure that it can continue to make a significant difference in maintaining and restoring sight to even more people around the world.”
Flying to more than 150 destinations spread across six continents, Qatar Airways reaches many of the countries that Orbis UK volunteers need to visit.
“We are delighted that Qatar Airways is supporting Orbis UK through becoming our official airline,” Orbis Africa Chairman Mr. Robert Walters said “With the support of Qatar Airways, our volunteers are able to continue saving sight around the world, moving us closer towards achieving our vision of a world where no-one is needlessly blind.”
Since 1982 Orbis performed 23.3 million medical and optical treatments and trained over 325.000 doctors and nurses in 92 countries across the world.
Orbis also operates The Flying Eye Hospital, a unique plane bringing hope to the blind around the world.
