Heroes of Orbis: Oluwadare Adelani Faderin

Among them was Oluwadare Adelani Faderin, a Nigerian biomedical engineer with Alcon, who joined the Flying Eye Hospital project in Kumasi to train local biomedical engineers at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). 

Oluwadare’s goal was to empower local engineers with the skills they need to keep sight-saving equipment functioning long after the Flying Eye Hospital departs. “Even though we don’t have the Alcon microscope available here,” he explained, “these participants will be exposed to the Zeiss microscope. And the concept is universal. We looked at various parts—the objective lens, the illumination, the base, and the electrical system.” 

Throughout the week, Oluwadare guided local teams through every stage of ophthalmic equipment management—from understanding basic eye anatomy to troubleshooting complex surgical systems. “We start with introducing them to basic eye anatomy,” he said. 

“They need to understand how the human eye functions, and also common diseases that might occur before someone needs to see an optician or an ophthalmologist. This gives them ideas of how the machine works.” 

That foundation in anatomy and disease is followed by practical training in electronics and device maintenance. “All the devices that the doctors use are electronic,” Oluwadare explained. “They need to understand the basic concept of electronics—how it’s integrated and the categories of machines, like diagnostic, imaging, and surgical.” 

After a week of training, he says they progressed to the Phaco machine, which is what the doctor uses in the operating theater. 
 

Images: Oluwadare's work in action during a Flying Eye Hospital project in Ghana

For Oluwadare, it’s not just about fixing machines; it’s about ensuring that sight-saving care can continue smoothly, day after day, for years to come. “That is what this training is all about—when they understand the concepts, the functionality, and the operational purpose of the machine, it helps them narrow down the issue when there’s a breakdown and know how to troubleshoot. 

Maintenance, he emphasized, is the backbone of sustainable eye care. “Sometimes the biomedical engineer might run into a complex situation where they need to get in touch with an engineer at a manufacturer. Many times we have engineers at Alcon, Zeiss, and Topcon who are trained for advanced troubleshooting or retrofitting parts. But for this week, these biomedical engineers are learning and understanding the immediate needs of surgery, so they are better able to respond when the time calls for it.”

The Alcon Foundation, an Orbis partner for more than 40 years, continues to support our sight-saving work in hard-to-reach communities through monetary donations, ophthalmic equipment, and product contributions via Alcon Cares. As Charles Herget, Vice President of Alcon Social Impact and Sustainability, shared: "The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital is a powerful example of how innovation and collaboration can expand access to quality eye care. 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.”

Thanks to trainers like Oluwadare—and the strong partnership between Orbis and Alcon—biomedical engineers in Ghana are building the technical confidence to maintain critical equipment and ensure that patients continue receiving the care they deserve. 

From the entire Orbis community, we’d like to say a huge thank you to Oluwadare and Alcon, for your dedication to helping improve access to eye care in communities around the world.