#USA #New York #AWS #Eye Care #Orbis International

Orbis International Wins 2026 AWS Children's Health Innovation Award

Orbis International, a global nonprofit specializing in eye care, has recently been awarded the prestigious 2026 Amazon Web Services (AWS) Imagine Grant for its innovative approach to enhancing children’s health. The AWS Children's Health Innovation Award acknowledges projects that leverage cloud services to significantly improve outcomes in children's healthcare. This grant will enable Orbis to focus on an essential issue: the care of premature infants at risk of blindness due to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Retinopathy of prematurity is a leading cause of vision loss among children globally, prompting Orbis to act swiftly to enhance screening processes. By employing artificial intelligence (AI) supports, the organization is set to improve the accuracy and speed of screenings which are critical for neonates in need of timely intervention.

“Through the AWS Imagine Grant, we can significantly impact the lives of countless premature babies,” said Nicolas Jaccard, Director of AI and Software Engineering at Orbis. By integrating AI-assisted screening technologies developed by Siloam Vision into Cybersight, Orbis's unique telemedicine and e-learning platform, healthcare professionals will be empowered to identify and manage cases at risk of avoidable blindness more effectively.

The project initially established by Orbis in Mongolia and Bangladesh will expand its reach to India and Vietnam, thereby enhancing care for more infants in need. This expansion is pivotal as it allows clinical teams to access AI-assisted resources regardless of their geographic location, ensuring that no baby is left without potential lifesaving care.

AWS’s support includes financial backing along with access to cloud computing resources that will solidify the infrastructure necessary for reviewing retinal imaging and assisting in clinical decisions. This resource facilitates prioritizing urgent cases and ensures that families residing in remote areas can access specialized eye care services, an endeavor in line with Orbis's mission to save sight and improve quality of life for individuals around the world.

Since its inception in 2018, the AWS Imagine Grant initiative has significantly contributed over $21 million to more than 200 nonprofit organizations addressing critical health issues through innovative technological approaches. Orbis stands among these notable recipients as it continues to advance efforts to eliminate preventable blindness.

The work initiated by Orbis International over the past four decades has made a significant impact in eye care, seen most famously through the Flying Eye Hospital—a mobile teaching facility bringing essential eye care and training to communities globally. This innovative approach underlines Orbis's commitment to enhancing healthcare accessibility and ensuring that everyone, especially children, have access to essential expertise and treatments.

As the digital landscape in healthcare continues to evolve, partnerships such as that with AWS are critical to addressing global challenges like ROP. “The integration of advanced technologies into healthcare can transform the landscape of pediatric care,” emphasized Rick Buettner, Global Director of Nonprofits at AWS. Orbis’s project signifies a step towards that transformation, demonstrating how innovative solutions can lead to meaningful advancements in the health and well-being of children worldwide.

For more information on how Orbis International is leveraging technology to combat avoidable blindness, interested readers are encouraged to visit orbis.org to learn more about their projects and initiatives.

This award not only underscores Orbis's commitment to fighting vision loss but also reaffirms the potential of technology to create real change in the most vulnerable populations. With the continued support of AWS and other partners, Orbis aims to lead the way in redefining children’s health care, one sight at a time.