Flying Eye Hospital touches down in Ghana

With an invitation from the Ministry of Health, and in partnership with Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, 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.

For more than 40 years, the Alcon Foundation has stood alongside Orbis, providing not only funding but also essential ophthalmic equipment, surgical supplies, and expertise through Alcon Cares. Their ongoing support has helped train thousands of eye care professionals and expand access to quality vision care around the world.

“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.” 

FedEx donated the MD-10 aircraft that became the current Flying Eye Hospital and continues to provide vital financial, logistical, and aviation support—while volunteer FedEx pilots fly the aircraft on its sight-saving projects.

“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.” 

Since 2011, OMEGA has proudly championed Orbis’s work, supporting Flying Eye Hospital projects worldwide and bringing comfort to young patients through Seymour the Bear—dressed here in Ghanaian Kente cloth and holding a traditional talking drum in celebration of Ghana’s rich storytelling and musical heritage.

“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.