FedEx Express has teamed up with international eye care charity Orbis to announce their world-class UK Orbis Flying Eye Hospital. It is thought that more than 285 million people are visually impaired around the world. 4 out of 5 of these people suffering with eye conditions are struggling with completely avoidable conditions. The purpose of the partnership was to create Flying Eye Hospital.
The Aircraft will be at Stanstead Airport from the 11t to the 17th March. This aircraft will be the third generation Flying Eye Hospital and is the only mobile ophthalmic teaching hospital on board an aircraft anywhere in the world. The plane itself was donated to the charity by FedEx Express in 2011. The craft has then been designed in order to create a custom and advanced medical facility that focuses on raining and containing the most up to date technology. It is thought that the Flying Eye Hospital will help to improve the eye health skills of medical professionals in different areas around the world. The areas concentrated on by Orbis’ hospital are Africa Asia and Latin America.
You can take a virtual reality tour of the pane online to see how the facility is adapted for the aircraft. FedEx team members will also be supporting Orbis by providing a number of volunteers in order to support the project. The volunteer positions filled by the FedEx members includes Pilots as well as providing maintenance and ground support for the aircraft. The volunteers will also serve as translators and provide assistance organizing aeroplane events such as Pull for Sight.
It is thought that 90% of those who suffer from visual impairment around the world live in areas where they have no access to sight-saving treatment that can be accessed easily in the developed world. Orbis has been working for the past 30 years to help countries develop the skills and resources they need to offer quality eye care within their local communities.
