Orbis International

Short read: ?? The Flying Eye Hospital has touched down in Chattogram, Bangladesh for a two-week ophthalmic training project. After unpacking the plane and transforming into hospital mode, week one of simulation training is underway. https://lnkd.in/enrzhuHA

Week one of our Flying Eye Hospital ophthalmic training project has drawn to a close. Local teams honed their skills on virtual reality, cutting-edge prosthetics, and highly sophisticated, life-like manikins before moving on to real-life patients in week two. Sub-specialties of phacoemulsification, strabismus, glaucoma, and surgical retina were covered by Orbis staff faculty and expert Volunteer Faculty. Long-time Volunteer Faculty Dr. Karl Golnik gave lectures in the Alcon Classroom on neuro-ophthalmology and the training of trainers. Dr. Sheetal Pundir from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, who served as an Associate Ophthalmologist throughout week one, told us: "The residents are so receptive...they're so excited and always challenging me to come up with new scenarios for them. Their enthusiasm makes me want to for it. I'm so glad I'm here. I'm so grateful to all the residents and to Orbis". A big thank you to all our supporters and partners who make these projects possible.

Watch! The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital changes into hospital mode ready for its sight-saving project in Bangladesh.

We love this video put together by Orbis India to celebrate their 25th anniversary! It tells the story of Safalta, a young girl who developed strabismus at seven years of age. With the help of Orbis supporters and our partner hospital, Siliguri Greater Lions Eye Hospital, Safalta got the care she needed. Orbis International Chief Development Officer Kim Goldsmith-N'Diaye shared: “Through the collaborative efforts of dedicated partners and generous donors, providing eye care services to children in India is truly transformative and impactful for families and communities.” A big thank you to Orbis India and everyone involved in her care.

Yesterday was screening day on the Bangladesh Flying Eye Hospital project. Our teams of expert volunteers and clinical staff worked with local teams to select patients for surgery based on patients that will serve as the best training cases. Local teams share case details via Orbis Cybersight, our e-learning and telemedicine platform, in advance of the project to ensure screening day runs as smoothly as possible. Stay tuned for more updates coming soon.

Yesterday was the opening ceremony for our 2024 Flying Eye Hospital ophthalmic training project in Bangladesh. There were two ceremonies, one at Chattogram Airport and one at our partner hospital Chattogram Eye Infirmary and Training Complex (CEITC). The event was chaired by Professor Dr. Robiul Hossain, founder and managing trustee of CEITC with Dr Shahadat Hossain, Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation, was also in attendance. Orbis CEO Derek Hodkey said, "We are proud to restart the Flying Eye Hospital project in Bangladesh once again, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and CEITC. Our long-term partnership has played a significant role in improving eye care in Bangladesh. We are grateful for the support from Alcon Cares, Alcon Foundation, and FedEx".

Today is unpacking day on our Flying Eye Hospital project in Bangladesh. It takes a team of dedicated clinical and aircraft experts to convert the plane from flight mode to hospital mode. There’s a lot to do, from hooking up the generators to getting the surgical room and classroom ready for ophthalmic training. A big thanks to all involved in this team effort.

We have touch down?????? The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital has landed in Chattogram (formerly Chittagong) for its latest sight-saving training project. ? The plane landed at Shah Amanat International Airport after a stopover in the Philippines for a restock of medical supplies. The pilots (all current or retired FedEx pilots), Orbis clinical team, and aircraft operations were met by the Orbis Bangladesh team with flowers and open arms.??? ? Stay tuned for more news from the training project, where Orbis staff and Volunteer Faculty will be working shoulder-to-shoulder with local partners to improve ophthalmic skills through world-class training and mentorship.

With the #FlyingEyeHospital set to land in Bangladesh tomorrow ahead of a two-week ophthalmic training project, we thought we'd share this great video by our very own Sahos Mostafiz Orbis Bangladesh Communication, Media, and Advocacy Specialist. The video was filmed on an awareness-raising tour in Hong Kong last year. Sahos and the Bangladesh team can't wait to get this next project underway. Stay tuned for more news coming very soon.

We love this quote from Dr. Malik Kahook Chair of the Orbis Medical Advisory Committee and Volunteer Faculty, from our recent Flying Eye Hospital project in Mongolia. It's not just what you do, but how you do it. "One patient in particular made an impression on me and will likely stick with me for quite some time. She was an elderly woman who had suffered from glaucoma for decades and unfortunately lost significant vision due to poor adherence to topical therapy regimens and inability to visit the hospital as recommended for both economic and geographic limitations. We scheduled her for filtration surgery, and she was obviously very nervous. I can usually take time with my patients and talk through expectations and potential outcomes, with a focus on relieving some of the stress involved with surgery. The language limitations were not in my favor, and I had to rely on local interpreters. However, what I could do was hold her hand while she was waiting for the surgery to start in the operating room. She held my hand firmly and didn’t want to let go. I took the time to sit next to her and allow her the time she needed. We just sat in total silence holding hands, and I think she understood the team was there to help and we would take the best care of her. Her surgery went very well, and she was smiling later in the recovery area when I asked the interpreter to explain that her grip was firmer than my own." ?? ?? ?? ??