ORBIS INTERNATIONAL a New York based non-profit humanitarian organisation is dedicated to providing eye care and preventing avoidable blindness. ORBIS is providing the eye sight to thousands of poor people across the world. They innovated the idea of a "flying hospital" in 1982 in order to provide the high class medical facility to visually impaired people, who cannot afford the same. The Flying Eye Hospital is one of the greatest innovations in the medical field and over the last 30 years this aircraft has traveled to 88 countries and provided eye care to more than 15 million people. In addition to providing the medical treatement to visually impaired people the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital has also provided the much needed training to the local doctors in these countries. More than 288,000 eye care personnel have benefited from the training provided by Orbis.
This flying eye hospital is fully equipped with Operating Theatre, Recovery Room, Substerile Room, Laser Room, Audiovisual studio and Training Room. The Flying Eye Hospital was started with a DC - 8 aircraft which was retired in 1994 and donated to the Datangshan Museum near Beijing. The Opthalmic hospital and teaching facility is housed in a DC - 10 jet aircraft since 1994. Orbis volunteer pilots fly the plane and the international medical team around the world to teach the sight-saving skills. There are 22 staff members on board the flying eye hospital which includes opthalmologists, nurses, anaesthesiologists and flight mechanics. There are 400 medical professionals in 20 countries voluntarily supporting the hospital's activities by providing training and consultations to medical staff in developing countries.
ORBIS alongwith the World Health Organisation has launched the "Vision 2020: The right to sight" initiative to eradicate avoidable blindness by year 2020.
The flying eye hospital is currently at Abu Dhabi to raise awareness and to invite partnerships from medical professionals.
This is truly a fantastic initiative and I wish the Orbis Team all the very best for realising thier Vision 2020.
T.P.Anand
Dubai, U.A.E.
29th September 2012
Dear Anand, Would like to share my memories with regard to this Orbis Flying Eye Hospital. This flight had its visit to Chennai sometime during 2003 or 2004.
ReplyDeleteI personally handled the customs clearance of this flight and its equipments mounted inside under duty free scheme.
I still have the photograph of this flight presented by its crew as a souvenir.
The crew was so courteous to me with their warm welcome onboard the aircraft briefing the entire setup inside. It has a operation theatre and a screen outside live telecasting the operation being conducted inside the operation theatre.
It is really a wonderful idea of charity and those behind this should be wished for their good heart and innovative thinking.
Warm regds.
C.V. Karunakaran
i am just loving it, what can be more generous than this.
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