cbm Expanding its Mandate

Toronto (ots/PRNewswire) -

- President of cbm, Prof. Allen Foster Announces That cbm Has
Expanded its Areas of Work to Include All Persons With Disability,
Not Just Persons With Visual Loss.

For the past 100 years, cbm previously known as Christoffel
Blinden Mission, and Christian Blind Mission, has worked to prevent
and treat blindness and provide education and rehabilitation services
for persons with visual loss.

"The organization has decided that its purpose and work is to
improve the quality of life of all persons with disability, which
includes those with hearing or physical impairment and mental ill
health as well as those with visual loss," says Prof. Foster.

The evolution of the organization's name to cbm "allows us to
build on our history, while maintaining the same identity. We will
address the rights of persons with disability and their access to
services which are issues relevant to people with all forms of
disability."

cbm has also developed a new motto - "together we can do more".

"Together" emphasizes partnership - working together with
organizations in low income countries to deliver services to the
people in need; as well as working with like-minded development
organizations and UN agencies in international alliances, for example
with the World Health Organization in VISION 2020: the right to sight
global initiative.

"We can" emphasizes "ability" rather than "disability"; and "do
more" challenges us with the fact that by far the majority of persons
with disability in low income countries do not receive the medical,
education and rehabilitation services which could improve their
quality of life.

cbm advocates for the inclusion of people with disability as
equals in all aspects of society, and cbm believes that people with
disability have the same rights as everyone else to healthcare,
education, and livelihood opportunities.

cbm together with its 700 partners in over 100 countries currently
reaches 18 million people annually with services. "It is only a drop
in the ocean compared with the great need," says Prof. Foster. "There
is an urgent requirement to work harder to double our impact." It is
estimated that more than 500 million people have disability in low
and middle income countries.

cbm is the leading international organization whose primary
purpose is to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities
living in the poorest countries of the world.

ots Originaltext: CBMI Canada
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

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For further information: Lindsay O'Connor, CBM International, Media
Manager, Phone: +49(0)6251-131-392, lindsay.oconnor@cbm.org