Orbis Macau said in a statement yesterday that its Orbis Raffle 2022 was held on Tuesday in line with the Health Bureau’s (SSM) COVID-19 pandemic prevention measures, with the results to be announced today.
The statement noted that the event was witnessed by a Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) official as well as volunteer certified public accountant (CPA) Sevina Leung, while 144 winners and 30 backup winners were drawn by Orbis Macau’s Director of Development Isabel da Silva. The results will be announced on www.orbis.org/moraffle, Orbis Macau’s social media platforms, and also be published in Macao Daily News today, the statement said.
The statement said that Orbis Macau’s office is currently not open to the public due to the current outbreak, with prize redemption arrangements revised. Winners and backup winners must register their name, contact number and the winning raffle ticket’s serial number before 5 p.m. on August 5. The statement said that they can do so by leaving a voice message on 2830 0787 or emailing info.macau@orbis.org.
Within 24-hours of receiving the message, winners will be contacted regarding the arrangements, according to the statement. Further details can be found at the website or enquiries can be made by email or voice message.
The statement pointed out that the “Orbis Raffle Charity Sale” is among Orbis Macau’s annual key campaigns, which is “dedicated towards raising vital funds for Orbis global paediatric sight-saving programmes”.
The two-month long Charity Sale raised over 830,000 patacas, the statement noted, adding that the support from the campaign will be used to develop and strengthen paediatric ophthalmology in low- and middle-income regions to provide appropriate treatment for visually impaired children. Meanwhile, the statement added that the regions’ eye-care personnel can receive training to learn and improve on skills and knowledge to treat eye diseases and visual impairment in their communities.
The statement said that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has made global sight-saving work “more urgent than ever” with the intensified need for help due to the continuous strain on medical systems and resources, with Orbis extending gratitude to donors, volunteers, partners and supporters for enabling “sight-saving work” worldwide to continue and sustainable training for eye care professionals in low- to middle income countries.
The statement quoted Isabel da Silva as saying: “We are most grateful for the support so generously given by the people of Macau to help sustain the paediatric blindness prevention work of Orbis over the course of the 13 editions of the Orbis Raffle campaign, especially during this unprecedented time brought on by the pandemic! We are deeply touched by the charitable heart and spirit of the people of Macau!”
She also said “each of our donors, partners and supporters are sight-saving heroes, Orbis sincerely thanks you all for being an integral part of this incredible and impactful journey to ensure no one will have to live with avoidable blindness! We at Orbis sincerely urge and encourage the people of Macau to continue to support our work and effort to eradicate global preventable blindness and help more visually impaired patients living in regions lacking or without quality eye care and health resources. Every single support, no matter the level, will add up to make an impactful and life-changing difference…on behalf of the visually impaired patients helped by your gift of sight, we salute and thank you.”
This handout photo taken on July 5 and provided by Orbis Macau yesterday shows a Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) official (left), Orbis Macau Director of Development Isabel da Silva (centre), and volunteer CPA Sevina Leung.
This undated handout photo provided by Orbis Macau shows 6-year-old Teshager, who was diagnosed with trachoma in both eyes by an Orbis-trained eye-care team. The statement said that he had been in pain and unable to see since he was two, but that his vision was restored thanks to successful surgery at an Orbis-supported eye centre in Ethiopia. The statement underlined that Teshager “is looking forward to finally going to school this coming September.”
