LOCAL OPERATION FIGHTS AVOIDABLE BLINDNESS IN AFRICA, INDIA AND NEPAL
Happy and excited to be back in the not-for-profit sector, Aly Bandali has been appointed executive director of Operation Eyesight Universal, the Calgarybased international organization that is successfully fighting to eliminate avoidable blindness.
Founded by the late Art Jenkins 55 years ago to raise funds here for people needing eye care in India, today it continues to cure treatable blindness but has also earned global recognition working collaboratively with its hospital and government partners in investing in sustainable treatment, prevention and community development.
Bandali says he was aware of OEU but had no idea of the impact it has had on treating blindness in Africa, India and Nepal.
He is also delighted with the opportunity to be of help to people where he has his heritage. Born in Uganda, Bandali’s family escaped at the outset of the rule of Idi Amin and spent a year in a refugee camp in Austria before having the good fortune to be accepted into Canada.
His first Canadian home was in Edmonton, where he obtained his bachelor of commerce degree at the University of Alberta. His career began in the human resources department of the Canadian Red Cross there, but 20 years ago he was transferred to the Calgary office.
He left to do similar work with the Canadian Cancer Society. “In HR, you do a bit of everything and I was director of HR and COO when I left after a nine-year term to try my hand at being an entrepreneur,” he says.
Co-founder of Professional Contractor Solutions Inc., an organization whose unique model significantly reduces the risk of employers being found guilty of misclassification or having their contractors deemed as dependent on their organizations, he helped earn its first contracts.
But after having a coffee with Brian Foster, an early mentor in the HR profession, and learning that he was to retire from running OEU, he gave Boyden Executive Search a call and asked to let his name stand.
Foster, who has been associated with the organization for many years as volunteer board member and chair, is staying on until after the annual general
meeting on June 25, which gives Bandali time to soak up his knowledge of running the organization while establishing his own stamp as to how to strengthen its tag line — For All The World To See — and digest its adopted strategic plan.
And the AGM will give him the opportunity to meet with the two men who are running its overseas operations.
Kashinath Bhoosnurmath, visiting from India, has three decades of progressive experience in leadership positions with OEU as global director of programs, as well as with other INGOs including Save the Children UK and Active Aid France.
Director of quality and advocacy, Dr. Boateng Wiafe works throughout sub- Saharan Africa where in his 35 years in eye care he set new standards in the number of surgeries completed.
Bandali is quick to point out that the organization he now leads is well respected around the world, earning the support of major businesses such as leading
international banker Standard Charter and many other significant partnerships including the renowned LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, India.
Yet many in this city are not aware of its huge impact in reaching, along with its partners, more than 6.2 million people last year through health education activities. Its focus on avoidable blindness affects entire communities with sustainable programs that continue after its work is done.
In Zambia, 106 wells have been drilled and 33 pump minders trained to maintain them, giving people clean water to wash eyes and therefore help avoid the blinding disease of trachoma.
In India, it has established 23,000 village vision centres that all became self-sustaining within three to six months.
Bandali is determined to tell the story to more Calgarians to give them an opportunity to participate in the work, and is currently setting up a cabinet of influencers who will help OEU
to prevent blindness and restore sight
Notes: The fourth Breakfast on the Bridge in support of the Calgary Military Family Resource Centre is being held June 23, but due to construction surrounding the Peace Bridge it will be relocated to the Calgary Zoo’s Discovery Trail Bridge and includes a VIP tour of Panda Passage.