The preparatory work for the next year’s visit of Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, the world’s only fully accredited ophthalmic teaching hospital on board an MD-10 aircraft, to Bangladesh is going on in full swing.

A four-member delegation of Orbis headquarters visited Bangladesh as part of the preparation for ‘the 11th FEH Training Programme-2024’ in Chattogram that will take place on November 14-28.

The delegation members are Orbis Flying Eye Hospital Programme Manager Meryem Altun Parent, Senior Manager (Advanced Logistics) Ernesto Moreno, Staff Ophthalmologist Mohamed El Abed and Staff Nurse Jacqueline Newton.

Like the previous occasions, the flying hospital will offer critical medical services to Bangladeshi patients and conduct training for ophthalmologists. The two-week programme will be FEH’s 11th mission in Bangladesh and fifth in Chattogram.

Orbis delegation had a meeting with the officials of Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS) on Thursday  at the college in Dhaka where they discussed the capacity building of ophthalmologists and human resources development in the field in Bangladesh through the flying hospital, said a press release.

BCPS President Prof Mohammod Shahidullah, its Ophthalmology Department Chairman Prof Deen Mohd Noorul Haq, who was the director general of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), and other faculty members were present.

Earlier, the delegation visited Chattogram Eye Infirmary and Training Complex (CEITC), a specialised eye hospital which will act as the local partner of the training programme, to see their preparation. 

In a meeting with the delegation on Oct 17, Managing Trustee of CEITC Prof Dr Rabiul Hossain appreciated Orbis for its flying hospital's global impact on enhancing the proficiency of eye doctors through training programmes.

On Oct 16, the delegation had a meeting with the central organising committee for the 11th FEH Training Programme-2024’ in Dhaka. In the meeting, the organising committee informed the delegation of their preparation to host the FEH.

Ophthalmic Society of Bangladesh (OSB) President and Sylhet Medical University Vice Chancellor Prof AHM Enayet Hussain chaired the meeting attended by heavyweights in the ophthalmology field.

Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) President Prof Ava Hossain, DGHS ex-director general Prof Shah Monir Hossain and Prof Deen Mohd Noorul Huq, OSB Secretary General Prof Dipak Kumar Nag, National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital ex-director Prof Jalal Ahmed, BSMMU Professor Nuzhat Choudhury, and Prof Purabi Rani Debnath of BIRDEM Hospital were among the participants.

Most of the attendees observed that ophthalmic professionals in Bangladesh have greatly benefited from the training the flying eye hospital has offered.

Orbis Country Director for Bangladesh Dr Munir Ahmed, Associate Directors Dr Lutful Husain and Iqbal Hossain joined all the meetings.

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital is a state-of-the-art teaching facility equipped with an operating room, classroom and recovery room being operated since 1982.