Bringing Gender into Focus in Eye Health: My Journey with Orbis

At Orbis International, we believe that no one should suffer from avoidable vision loss. We work in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach communities, ensuring that quality eye care is accessible to all. Yet, gender disparities in eye health remain a critical issue. 

Blindness affects everyone, but for women and girls, the impact can be especially severe—limiting education and job opportunities, increasing social and economic marginalization, and heightening vulnerability to abuse. That’s why I’m deeply honored to contribute to Orbis’s mission of eliminating preventable blindness.

I'm especially excited to lead the Women Leaders in Eye Health initiative, which is creating a global network of visionary female ophthalmologists committed to driving change in their communities and beyond. This initiative addresses two critical challenges: while women make up 70% of the global health workforce, they hold only 25% of leadership roles. Even more urgently, women account for 55% of the world’s blind and visually impaired population. By empowering women in eye health, we can create more equitable leadership and improve access to care for those who need it most.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my career has been advocating for policy changes that directly improve the lives of women and girls. During my time at UNDP, I played a key role in Zambia’s efforts to domesticate the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This work led to the review, development, and eventual enactment of two landmark laws: the Gender-Based Violence Act of 2011 and the Gender Equity and Equality Act of 2016. These legal reforms strengthened protections for women and girls, ensuring that gender-based violence and discrimination were recognized and addressed at the national level.

Beyond legal advocacy, I have also contributed to global efforts to end child marriage. In 2013, I was part of Zambia’s delegation to the 69th United Nations General Assembly, where I joined a core gender working team pushing for the adoption of Resolution 169—a groundbreaking motion calling for a global ban on child marriage. What began as a joint initiative between Zambia and Canada grew into a powerful global movement, ultimately securing support from 116 countries. Being part of this process reinforced my belief that change is possible when nations come together with a shared vision for a better world.

While high-level policies and resolutions are critical, my work has also taken me to the grassroots—where women, men, and children simply seek access to basic rights: education, healthcare, and clean water. These experiences remind me that gender equality is not just about laws and strategies; it’s about real people, real lives, and real change.

At Orbis, I am proud to continue this mission, ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight for better vision and a world with opportunities for all. Happy International Women’s Day 2025.

I was drawn to Orbis because of the opportunity to help in a real and tangible way—so women and girls can access better vision care and improve their lives in the process. Nine months in, I am really excited about some of the high-impact work we are already doing here at Orbis and what’s ahead.

We have recently received a very generous grant from the Alcon Foundation to expand mentorship and leadership opportunities for women in eye care, gaining inspiration from Zambia’s Women in Ophthalmology Mentorship Platform, which has close to 250 members.

Such platforms create spaces for women in eye care to share experiences, form professional networks and most importantly, strengthen their leadership skills by challenging the stereotypes and traditional norms they face, especially in underserved communities.

Another high-impact way to overcome barriers related to eye care services for women and girls and transform communities is through our women-led green vision centres.

In 2025 alone, we will launch 13 centers in Bangladesh, each serving around 100,000 people. We will provide specialist training to women to perform screenings and provide treatment and embark on community-based awareness campaigns to encourage more women and girls to visit the centres, reassuring them that they can be seen by a woman. The positive impact of these centers for women and girls will be huge.

I am excited about the future and am proud to be playing a role in an organization that is ensuring no one is left behind in the fight for better vision.