Global eye care nonprofit Orbis International and AirAsia Group have announced a multi-year strategic partnership aimed at improving access to eye care across the Asia-Pacific region. AirAsia will provide $100,000 (US$100,000) in airfare support annually over the next five years, facilitating Orbis's collaboration with local hospitals, health ministries, and eye care professionals.
The partnership addresses the urgent need for scalable, locally led solutions in eye health, as the Asia-Pacific region faces challenges such as growing populations, rising chronic disease rates, and workforce shortages. Orbis, known for its Flying Eye Hospital—a teaching hospital aboard an aeroplane—will leverage AirAsia's regional reach to enhance its long-term impact through digital platforms and local programmes.
Kathleen Sherwin, President and CEO of Orbis International, expressed gratitude for AirAsia's involvement, stating, "Together we can help strengthen local capacity, connect eye care teams with training and technology, and support sustainable systems that continue serving communities long after any single project ends."
AirAsia's Group CEO, Bo Lingam, highlighted the airline's commitment to more than just connecting destinations, saying, "By combining the reach of our network with Orbis's expertise, we can help bring life-changing eye care training and technology closer to the communities that need it most."
This collaboration aims to bring training and technology closer to communities, fostering sustainable progress in eye health systems. As the need for quality eye care grows, Orbis and AirAsia's partnership is poised to create lasting impact across the region
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