October 2010

Countdown to 10 Million Now Seeing, Hoping, and Dreaming

By Ron Nabors, CEO, CBM-US  

As I write to you this month, I’d like to ask that you join with us as we prepare to celebrate a remarkable milestone: the performance of the 10 millionth CBM-supported cataract surgery! Made possible by the generous ongoing support of CBM donors, this is an unprecedented accomplishment by any other organization in the world.

Together with our CBM partners around the world, we’re keeping a close watch as we move ever closer to the 10 millionth surgery. In fact, the more than 675,000 surgeries we performed last year  combined with those we’ve performed already in 2010 have put us right on track to reach 10 million by the end of October.

Since the first CBM-supported cataract surgery in Afghanistan in 1966, we have become a leader in the global fight to end preventable blindness. What’s even more amazing is that this fight, which helps millions of people around the world who are blind from cataracts, begins with as little as $35—the average cost of a cataract surgery for an adult in the developing world. Surgery for children with cataracts may cost as much as $200 due to general anesthesia needs. Yet the impact this surgery has is truly priceless.

Each year, more than a million people will go blind as the result of cataracts. For people who are already living in extreme poverty, cataracts drastically affect their quality of life. Now, these people who are on the edge of survival, face the loss of education, the ability to support themselves, and lack of acceptance within their communities. What’s more, their life expectancy drops substantially.

Bahati, a little boy in Tanzania, could have been just another statistic if not for CBM’s help.

His mother, Evelyn, first noticed that he had a problem when he began spending much of his time in the shade. Whenever Bahati went out into the sunlight, he had difficulty seeing. It was only when he started attending school, however, that Evelyn learned the terrible truth: Bahati was almost completely blind.

Often, he would return home from school covered in cuts from thorn bushes because he couldn’t see well enough to walk by himself. Soon, he was forced to quit school entirely. To make matters worse, Bahati couldn’t see well enough to help his family in the fields either. Once, he even threatened their meager livelihood when he cut the good maize, having mistaken it for weeds.

Thankfully, Evelyn heard about a small health station close to her village. The clinic referred Bahati to the CBM-supported Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) hospital in Dar es Salaam. CCBRT arranged for Bahati and his mother to travel to the hospital where he would have sight-restoring cataract surgery.

Today, Bahati’s life has been completely transformed. Evelyn tells us, “Bahati is behaving much differently now. He’s much happier playing. Now, he can go back to school and can help out in the fields.”

CBM-supported surgery freed Bahati from a lifetime of hardship and provided him with the opportunity to achieve an education. This is one vitally important step in helping Bahati, his village, and his country break the poverty/disability cycle. Poverty and disability are intrinsic in the developing world. People with disabilities and their families are more likely to live in extreme poverty. Likewise, people who live in poverty are much more likely to become disabled.

That’s why I’d like you to know that your gift does more than restore vision. It actually restores lives and helps to break the devastating cycle of disability and poverty.

On behalf of Bahati, the almost 10 million people who’ve received sight-restoring cataract surgery, and the millions more whose lives have been changed for the better as a result, I’d like to ask you to Join CBM  (www.cbmus.org)in counting down to this remarkable milestone and in the fight against preventable blindness.

In the developing world, more than

half the children who go blind will

die within two years.

- World Health Organization.

  

                            

 

July 2010

Every year, CBM compiles a comprehensive report of achievements from the previous 12 months. This year, as I read through this lengthy document, I could not help but be immensely proud of our work. In light of last year’s recession and financial uncertainty, we were challenged with the seemingly insurmountable task of providing critical services to more than 23.7 million people—a substantial increase from 2008. Yet despite the bad economic times facing our country last year, which resulted in lower income for CBM, we did not have to make the difficult decision to stop funding critical projects in the developing world. This was truly an amazing accomplishment—an accomplishment made possible through the ongoing generous support of investors like you, coupled with a short-term reduction in some of our own key infrastructure expenses, such as not filling open staff positions. Among our many successes in 2009 are:

· +920,000 eye operations were performed.

· +380,000 people received Vitamin A tablets.

· +1.1 million eyeglasses were dispensed.

· +165,000 people were enrolled in empowerment activities including self-help groups

· +64,000 children were enrolled in education programs.

· +675,000 people have had their sight restored through a cataract operation.

· +480,000 received medical treatment for hearing problems.

· +17,000 hearing aids were distributed.

· +96,000 people received support through CBM’s Community Mental Health programs.

· +66,000 people benefited from vocational training and employment programs.

· +2,600 doctors and more than 3,100 nurses/assistants received critical medical training.

· +16,000 teachers learned how to fully include children with disabilities in the classroom.

When we look at these statistics, we must not forget that behind these numbers are real people—men, women, and children who desperately need our help. Children like Hans.

Tucked deep inside the vast slums of northern Lima, Peru, amid endless rows of ramshackle houses, filth and trash, Hans lives with his family. Born with Cerebral Palsy, or CP, a group of chronic conditions affecting body movement, muscle coordination, and often mental capacity, Hans spent most of his days in isolation, lying in a simple plastic tub watching.

Having a child with a disability makes life for families already existing in extreme conditions of poverty even more difficult. With few resources, Hans’ parents did not know what to do to help him. The harsh truth is that people living with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world have little access to rehabilitation and other services. In fact, 98 percent of children with disabilities in the developing world do not attend school. The mortality rate for these children under the age of 5—like Hans—is as high as 80 percent.

Yet in just a short amount of time, Hans’ life has completely transformed. One of CBM’s Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) workers found him and began at-home physical therapy sessions. She enrolled him in a local preschool, and with the assistance of a special chair provided by CBM, Hans now sits upright at the table with the other school children. This child, who could once do little more than lie on the floor, now is considered the brightest in his class.

Hans is one of the more than 23 million people with disabilities annually whose lives have been changed for the better thanks to the generous gifts of CBM supporters. I’d like to ask you to take a few moments to review what we accomplished this year (LINK). Here, you’ll find other inspiring stories and view real evidence of the monumental impact your investment with CBM can make.

 

 

January 2010

Having spent much time with my young grandchildren recently, I found my mind wandering this morning to the story of The Little Engine That Could. As I reflected upon the tale (and the well-known lines, “I think I can, I think I can…”), I realized that the message of the story – having the belief that one can prevail – is very relevant to CBM.

At CBM, we have been able to change the lives of people with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world because of our donors’ belief in us and our mission. Even with a difficult economy this past year, our donors’ giving reflected a spirit of love, compassion, and selflessness. They made investments that weren’t subject to the ebb and flow of the stock market, but rather they invested in the lives of other human beings.

Because of this generosity, sight-restoring surgery was brought to men and women in Malawi who were blind for years because of cataracts. Families in Ethiopia were given a chance to start a business, and grow and store food, so they could keep themselves and their children safe from hunger and famine (and the disability famine brings). And, numerous moms, dads, and children now walk, see, hear or live fully – all because someone said a prayer or gave a gift. As I look back at CBM’s accomplishments in 2009, I can’t thank our donors and investors enough.

I feel so privileged that I get to see and hear about these life-changing transformations on a regular basis. The gifts we have received have changed lives, built vibrant, loving communities, and have helped to shape the world of people living with disabilities….into a world where people have hope, are shown mercy and justice, and experience love.

Thank you to all our donors who have given those living with disabilities a piece of a better world. I look forward to what we can accomplish in 2010. Together, “I know we can…I know we can” make a difference!

Have a very happy New Year and may God richly bless you.

December 2009

I’ve been taking inventory. Not the typical kind of inventory you think of this time of year. I haven’t been inventorying the Christmas presents I have or haven’t bought, or the pounds I’ve gained or lost, but have been thinking (and doing a mental inventory) of spiritual gifts.

As a Christian organization, even we can overlook our spiritual gifts. Hidden talents that are sometimes right there in front of us. As I spent time looking around the table at our Christmas meal together, I realized how grateful I am for the quality of individuals who are part of the CBM-US family. Each of them represents and fulfills a different purpose, although we are working together toward a common goal.

Their intellectual gifts—financial, administrative, Website oversight, donor relations, project coordination—are being used to help some of the world’s poorest people. But their spiritual gifts—their heart and sheer dedication to find ways to help those children and adults—are perhaps even more touching.

We’re at the time of the year where we take a few steps back and look back over the year, considering all that has happened. As we have redoubled our efforts to reach out to donors and tell them our story, we have also worked tirelessly to do more with less so that we can uphold our commitment to the people we help.

Every so often we have the pleasure of getting to know some of our donors personally and discovering their spiritual gifts. Many of our donors have been with us for years, continuing their financial gifts even during times of hardship and transition. I would like to be able to reach out to each of you, as I’m able to do with our staff, and offer an embrace of friendship and a heartfelt “thank you” for all that you’ve done to change the life of a child, or a mother or father or grandmother or grandfather who would be living in darkness or silence without you.

And my hope for you is that you’re able to spend a little time thinking about your own spiritual gifts and finding new ways to utilize those gifts as we celebrate the spirit and season of Christmas.

I want to give a post-Thanksgiving thanks to our hometown of Greenville. The community really embraces CBM and has been so gracious to us as we’ve done some things to celebrate our 100th anniversary. A couple weeks ago, our local leaders from Greenville County Council issued a proclamation recognizing our 100th anniversary and Fred Payne, a longtime supporter and council member, shared his experiences seeing CBM’s work firsthand in Ethiopia.

This week, I can say we’ve landed on thousands of local doorsteps as well as the world wide web—peeking out from the first page of the Greenville News’ City People section.

View the article here.

It’s a tremendous honor when I get to talk about CBM and the work we’re doing. I hope you’ll take a minute and follow the link to read the article which does a great job of telling the story of how my decision to come to CBM has dramatically changed my life.

Today, we received a special donation from a little girl in California.

After her grandmother told Hannah about CBM’s efforts to help children who live in terrible conditions in a world she could scarcely imagine, the little girl wanted desperately to help, and raided her piggy bank.

Three dollars and eighty-five cents later (all in quarters, nickels and dimes), the contents of Hannah’s bank--as well as a small note--were on their way cross-country to our headquarters in Greenville, South Carolina.

The note says, “Hi! My name is Hannah. I am donaiting (sic) $3.85 to help children with blindness. Hope this helps. Love Hannah.”

Before we received the note today, Hannah’s mom gave us a call last week to tell us the story of her little girl and ask us to watch out for a special envelope that would be laden with change from Hannah’s piggy bank, and an outpouring of love from her heart.

The sheer goodness and innocence of children can catch us off-guard at times. They give fiercely and often don’t hesitate to do what they think is right. They don’t suffer from the anxiety of age that can prevent us from taking action for fear that the gesture won’t be appreciated—or, even worse—that it won’t be enough.

They live out loud.

I want to ask you to try living out loud today. Take courage from the wonderful lessons of Gift of the Magi, the wonderful sacrificial stories of Abraham and Mary in the Bible and of a big-hearted little girl in California named Hannah.

Take heart with the knowledge that giving of yourself is enough. And thank you, Hannah, because your gift of $3.85 will certainly help CBM. We will use your donation to distribute Mectizan, a wonderful drug that helps prevent river blindness and Vitamin A, a nutrient essential for sight development.

Children living in the poorest countries of the world will be able to see, in part, because of Hannah’s gift. And many of us doing the wonderful work of CBM have been inspired by a child’s generosity.

- Ron Nabors, CEO of CBM-US

Right about now, you may be developing your New Year’s resolutions. In years past, mine have typically involved some combination of recalibrating my diet and exercise plans and deciding what I’d like to accomplish personally and professionally.

Sometimes our intentions are a lot better than our follow-through. Many times, I’ve fallen short of the resolutions set in the optimism of January. Since I’m publishing my resolutions this year, I feel added pressure to make them stick.

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what I want to accomplish this year, mainly for CBM. I believe that 2008 will be the year that CBM-US begins to pull its weight and increase our financial contributions toward the worldwide effort. Over the years, a small, but committed, group of donors, has fueled our efforts.

We’re committed to spreading our message to a much larger audience—we need more people invested in our work to allow us to reach more people. When people hear our message and begin to understand the work that we’re doing, a light bulb goes off. I’ve seen it happen when I’ve met people in formal and informal settings—from the wonderful group of Ambassadors who attended our World Sight Day presentation in Washington to communicating with a former colleague about what I’m doing now.

Preventing blindness and other disabilities from occurring makes sense. And treating and correcting disability whenever possible makes sense. Helping those families who are impoverished with a micro-loan that makes them self-sustaining makes sense.

The need for CBM’s work is unquestionable. The world needs CBM, and we need our donors. Without your support, none of these wonderful success stories happen.

As Brenda Colatrella, the Executive Director for Global Health Partnerships for Merck & Co, Inc., so eloquently put it: “Without our partners, the medicine (Mectizan) would sit on a shelf, not reaching those who need it most.” Through your donations, CBM is able to dispense Mectizan and prevent river blindness. Without you, the medicine sits on our shelves, not getting to those who need it.

Thank you for all you do for CBM. I’m committed to finding more people just like you to help our organization grow and flourish in 2008. After all, together we can do more.

-- Ron Nabors

I am going to buy a new book I read about on the ABC News website. The book is “Crashing Through” and it chronicles the story of Mike May’s journey after he regained his sight after having been blind for 43 years. He was blinded at age three in a freak chemical accident and a new stem cell surgery has enabled him to see. I have seen him at various times on television and heard bits and pieces of his story but the article from ABC led me to want to read a more comprehensive story.

Mike has lived a very full life. He is a three time Paralympics gold medalist and current world record holder in downhill speed skiing; entrepreneur and the verge of bringing a portable global positioning system (GPS) to the blind; a gifted public speaker; mud hut dweller in Ghana; husband and loving father; former CIA man. May has lived his life as an adventure and his disability less than a handicap even though it requires adjustments. A quote from Mike in the article says “Life with vision is great. But life without vision is great, too.” It is not hard to imagine Mike’s accomplishments when you hear words like that coming from him.

I could not help but think of the people CBM serves as I read this article. Mike is a very determined and gifted man. He has a lot of assistance from his wife in the everydayness of life. He has used his talents to have a successful career and provide economic resources for himself and his family. He has the benefit of technology that provides tools that enable him to handle his challenges. He has a superior education. He has a dog that guides him and basketballs that beep so he knows how to catch or avoid them.

As I read I longed for the people in Kenya and Ecuador and Tanzania and Mexico to have those same advantages. I want for them to be able to see when possible and when that is not an option I want for them to have technologies that enable them to face their challenges. I want for them to be able to use their talents to provide economic sustenance for themselves and their families. I want them to have hope for their future. I want for them to be able to say “Life with vision is great but live without vision is great too.”

CBM touched 18,324,500 people with vision disabilities in 2006. We enabled 1,022,230 to see through surgical interventions. We prevented river blindness in 8,884,820 people. We worked with 63,382 people who have inoperable vision disabilities in our community rehabilitation centers so that their life can be more full and productive. That’s good news.

But there are more than 161,000,000 people with vision disabilities and millions who are in danger of becoming blind due to reversible environmental problems. With more resources and better technology we can do more and we must. We simply must.

Mike May’s story inspires me. I see hope and opportunity in his story. It inspires me to do more and reminds me what a difference we can make in a persons life. Thank you Mike May. Keep telling your story. It inspires us all.

-- Ron Nabors