FedEx funds anti-blindness campaign

MANILA, Philippines - US logistics giant Federal Express Corp. is helping fund an extensive anti-blindness program worldwide, including the Philippines, as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

In an interview with The STAR, Fedex managing director for Indonesia and the Philippines Rhicke Jennings said the company has been the leading aviation sponsor for Orbis Flying Eye Hospital Program for 30 years now, providing millions of dollars of support in cash and in-kind contributions.

The so-called Flying Eye Hospital is a surgical and training hospital with wings. It brings together and eye care professionals and aviators that they may be able to provide eye surgery and eye care to developing countries around the world, including the Philippines.

Jennings said that this year alone, the program took place from February to March in Iloilo and Bacolod.

Under the Philippines program for 2012, 18 visiting international volunteer faculty members and the Western Visayas Medical Center conducted an intensive skills exchange training program with 217 ophthalmic professionals.

The program, conducted over a two-week period in Iloilo, provided eye care assistance to more than 74 Filipinos including 11 children.