Flying Eye Hospital touches down in Ghana

With an invitation from the Ministry of Health, and in partnership with Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), and the Ghana Ophthalmic Nursing School, the Flying Eye Hospital will host a three-week ophthalmic training project from October 13–31, 2025.

“It is my privilege to work with the Ministry of Health to welcome the Flying Eye Hospital back to Ghana,” said Adolf Ollennu, Country Director of Orbis Ghana. “We hope this visit not only showcases the eye care services and expertise already available in Ghana but also reinforces the importance of prioritizing eye health at the national level. A strong commitment to finalizing and implementing a national eye health policy will ensure that quality, sustainable care reaches everyone who needs it.” 

The Flying Eye Hospital is the world’s only fully accredited teaching hospital on board an MD-10 aircraft. Its return to Ghana underscores Orbis’s long-term commitment to strengthening local eye health systems and expanding access to quality, affordable care across the country.

Throughout the project, Orbis’s expert clinical staff and Volunteer Faculty will deliver a mix of simulation and surgical training in partnership with Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), and the Ghana Ophthalmic Nursing School. 

Simulation sessions will take place both on board the Flying Eye Hospital—parked at Kotoka International Airport—and at KBTH and the Nursing School in Accra, helping eye care teams practice complex, sight-saving procedures in a safe environment. 

In Kumasi, surgical, nursing, and anesthesia training at KATH will give every member of the eye care team the chance to gain critical new skills. Training will focus on a range of subspecialties including cataract, glaucoma, strabismus, retina, and oculoplastics, alongside specialized courses for nurses, anesthesiologists, and biomedical engineers.

None of this progress would be possible without the commitment of Title Sponsors, Alcon, FedEx, and OMEGA. 

The Alcon Foundation has been a generous supporter of Orbis for more than forty years, providing monetary donations for the Flying Eye Hospital. Alcon has provided additional support to the Flying Eye Hospital through donations of state-of-the-art ophthalmic equipment, surgical products, and supplies through Alcon Cares.

“The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital is a powerful example of how innovation and collaboration can expand access to quality eye care,” said Charles Herget, Vice President, Alcon Social Impact and Sustainability. “Alcon is honored to contribute advanced ophthalmic technologies and training support to help equip Ghana’s eye care professionals with the tools they need to succeed.” 

Our three-week training project in Ghana began with a vibrant opening ceremony at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, featuring traditional Ghanaian music and dance by the Norsan Cultural Troupe. Guests were welcomed by Adolf Ollennu, Country Director for Orbis Ghana, and Maurice Geary, Director of the Flying Eye Hospital, alongside Michaela Walker, Director of Operations for Aviance Ghana Limited.

The Hon. Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah MD,MPH,FACS, who is also a practicing surgeon, delivered remarks and toured the Flying Eye Hospital, where Ghanaian eye care professionals were participating in the first week of simulation training focusing on glaucoma, cataract, retina, and strabismus.

The Flying Eye Hospital project in Ghana continued to make great strides as we moved through weeks two and three. In Kumasi, our Volunteer Faculty and clinical team worked closely with Ghanaian eye care professionals at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), combining simulation-based learning on board the aircraft with hands-on surgical training in the hospital’s operating rooms.

Over two weeks, local ophthalmologists and nurses honed their skills in cataract, glaucoma, and strabismus surgery—vital areas that help prevent vision loss and restore sight for patients across Ghana.

One of those patients is six-year-old Christobel, who is all smiles just a day after undergoing bilateral strabismus surgery. Her bright eyes and joyful grin capture the heart of what this project is all about: transforming lives through training, teamwork, and compassionate care.

We are grateful to everyone who continues to make this work possible—our dedicated Volunteer Faculty, the talented teams at KATH, and our supporters who help bring world-class eye care training to communities around the world.

FedEx donated the MD-10 aircraft that became the current Flying Eye Hospital and also provides Orbis with ongoing financial support, in-kind shipping, and global aircraft operations support. Volunteers from FedEx pilot the Flying Eye Hospital to its worldwide destinations, and FedEx is represented on the Orbis International Board of Directors

“Around the world, FedEx team members take immense pride in our decades-long sponsorship of Orbis,” said Taarek Hinedi, Vice President of FedEx Middle East and Africa Operations. “The joy we experience as we help communities overcome preventable blindness is the deepest reward and the strongest motivation to keep flying forward together.” 

OMEGA has been a proud supporter of Orbis since 2011. OMEGA is an avid supporter of Flying Eye Hospital projects—including a first-of-its-kind training project held in Doha, Qatar, in 2022 for women in eye care from conflict-affected areas and 2023's project in Zambia. OMEGA also works in cooperation with its celebrity brand ambassadors to increase awareness of Orbis and its mission.

“Time is essential when strengthening eye care within any region, and this fourth project in Ghana shows how Orbis has committed so many hours and years to the country,” said Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO of OMEGA. “That long-term dedication is clearly so beneficial to the organization’s work and OMEGA is honored to be a part of it.” This project also builds on a decades-long collaboration between Orbis and Ghana’s eye health community. 

Since 2014, Orbis Ghana has worked closely with national and local partners to strengthen pediatric eye care, improve hospital infrastructure, and integrate eye care into primary health services for earlier detection and treatment. Finally, we’d like to express our gratitude to Orbis supporters around the world who make projects like this possible. 

Your commitment restores hope, dignity, and independence to people who would not normally be able to access quality eye care.