Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) and World Routes will host the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital during the 18th World Route Development Forum 2012, which takes place from 30th September to 2nd October at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

The ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital is a converted DC-10 performing as the world’s only ophthalmic surgical and training hospital with wings. This “hospital with wings” will be stationed at Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi so visitors can have a chance to learn how this unique hospital is benefiting those in need around the globe.

ORBIS is a non-profit, global development organisation whose mission is to eliminate avoidable blindness in developing countries. ORBIS prevents and treats blindness by providing the tools, training, and technology necessary for local partners to develop their own capacity to provide quality eye care services that are affordable, accessible and sustainable.

The arrival of the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital is in conjunction with the airline industry’s 18th World Route Development Forum. ORBIS is the Routes charity of choice so fundraising initiatives to support the next generation Flying Eye Hospital will also be taking place during the Forum.

Commenting on the arrival of the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital, Nasser Jumaa, General Manager of Al Bateen Executive Airport, stated:

“ADAC is delighted to be supporting and raising awareness of ORBIS, a global initiative to combat preventable blindness, during its visit to Abu Dhabi. Not only does the charity provide life changing services, it also demonstrates that they sky’s the limit when it comes to making vital healthcare available where necessary infrastructure is limited.”

ORBIS hopes tours offered during the 18th World Route Development Forum 2012 will lay the foundation for strong, long-lasting partnerships in Abu Dhabi.

Karen Jaques, Head of Corporate Partnerships for ORBIS says: “We have offered week-long youth development programs on board our Flying Eye Hospital to UK schools for several years now, so we are keen to develop this initiative further in order to benefit students from Abu Dhabi. Besides the Flying Eye Hospital, which travels to developing countries all year round, ORBIS operates on the ground sight-saving and teaching programs; some of these are based in India, Burkina Faso and Bangladesh. So we are hoping to capture the interest of Abu Dhabi, and raise awareness of the 39 million people in the world who are blind, as 80% of them could see again with the right eye care.”

The ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital will welcome visitors from Abu Dhabi from 29th September to 3rd October 2012. Visitors will experience the operating room where volunteer surgeons and local doctors perform surgery that is simultaneously broadcast to trainees in the 48 seat classroom at the front of the aircraft. Visitors will also see the recovery and sub-sterile areas as well as the assessment area and audio-visual room, all of which contribute to thousands of doctors, nurses, anaesthetists and biomedical engineers receiving precious professional development, every year.

ORBIS’ crew of medical professionals will be on hand to answer questions about the unique aircraft and the way in which it empowers eye care teams in developing countries to treat their own communities.

To visit The ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital please contact elawrence@orbis.org.uk>

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