‘Orbis Flying Eye Hospital’ set to operate in Ghana for three weeks
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has revealed the “Orbis Flying Eye Hospital” will be launched by President Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, November, 13 at the Kotoka International Airport.
The facility, which is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) is primarily dedicated to saving sight worldwide.
It is estimated that over 60 surgeries will be performed by the team.
It is also an educational project and the world’s only ophthalmic teaching hospital on-board an aircraft, that is expected to provide advance medical training to various health care practitioners in eye care delivery and treatment of complicated eye problems.
According to GHS, the Orbis FEH team are expected in Ghana specifically Accra and Kumasi for a period of three (3) weeks for medical programme.
The health directorate noted that this will be the third visit by the FEH to Ghana. The first visit to Ghana was in 1990 and the second was in 2006.
The service revealed the plane will land with the faculty of clinical team, consisting of ophthalmologists, theatre nurses, anesthetists and others on 8th November 2019, which will be followed by the launch on Wednesday.
ORBIS, a DC-10 aircraft converted into an ophthalmic hospital and innovative teaching facility, is the world’s only Flying Eye hospital.
Flown by volunteer pilots, the aircraft and its international medical team have conducted treatment and training in more than 70 countries since its inception in 1982.
It has an operating, laser and recovery room as well as audiovisual studio and classroom.