Orbis International’s Flying Eye Hospital Makes Inaugural Visit to Rwanda to Train Local Eyecare Teams

KIGALI, Rwanda—Global eyecare nonprofit Orbis International, with an invitation from Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, has announced the launch of a two-week training project aboard the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, a fully accredited ophthalmic teaching hospital on a plane. The initiative, hosted in partnership with the Rwanda International Institute of Ophthalmology (RIIO) and Kibagabaga Hospital, aims to build the skills of local eyecare teams, increase awareness related to eye health, and bolster access to sight-saving care across Rwanda, and marks the first time the Flying Eye Hospital has touched down in the country.

Orbis has provided training on and off the aircraft since 1982, the group advised, reaching 97 countries in person and more than 200 countries and territories virtually, with Rwanda serving as the 84th country where the aircraft-based hospital has provided training in person. As part of the training in Rwanda, Orbis clinical staff and volunteer medical faculty will facilitate simulation-based training, hands-on surgical training and patient care, and workshops for ophthalmic subspecialties including strabismus, cataract, oculoplastics, and medical retina, the announcement said. The training will also include skills in anesthesiology, nursing, and biomedical engineering.

During the simulation training, a select group of participants will use a virtual reality (VR) tool to further hone their skills in cataract surgery, and will learn how to set up and train on a portable VR tool co-developed by Orbis, the announcement stated. Upon conclusion of the training project, Orbis will donate one of the devices to RIIO to allow for continued learnings.

“I am delighted that Orbis is bringing the Flying Eye Hospital to Rwanda for the first time, not only to extend our mission to this important part of the world, but to support Rwanda’s national priorities in eye health,” said Dr. Ciku Mathenge, medical advisor for Orbis in Africa. “Orbis will collaborate with its long-standing partner, RIIO, on this impactful training project and thus support a residency program that is setting the standard for training the next generation of ophthalmologists in East Africa.

“Introducing cutting-edge simulation technology and sharing advanced skills from global experts, will empower RIIO’s residents and Rwanda’s young ophthalmologists to deliver high-quality eyecare in their own communities,” Dr. Mathenge continued.

While this project marks the first time the Flying Eye Hospital has conducted training in Rwanda, Orbis’s partnership with RIIO began nearly 10 years ago with workshops and trainings in local hospitals focused on medical retina and on growing the number of professionals trained to deliver eye health services, the announcement stated. Since 2021, Orbis has partnered with RIIO and the Rwanda Diabetes Association to address diabetic retinopathy.

Corporate sponsors for the two-week training project include the Alcon Foundation as well as the Swiss watchmaker OMEGA, the group advised. Further, the announcement stated, Alcon has served as an Orbis supporter for more than 40 years, providing in-kind donations through Alcon Cares and monetary donations through the Alcon Foundation. OMEGA has been a supporter of Orbis since 2011 and serves as “an avid supporter” of Flying Eye Hospital projects.

“At Alcon, we believe everyone deserves the chance to see a brighter future—regardless of where they live or the circumstances they face,” said Kerry Dailey, board member for Alcon Cares. “By supporting the development of strong, sustainable eyecare systems and equipping passionate eyecare professionals with the tools and training they need, we’re helping to make that vision a reality.”
“Orbis transforms lives through their Flying Eye Hospital projects, and we’re honored to support their fight against avoidable blindness,” said Raynald Aeschlimann, president and CEO of OMEGA. “Every project they complete creates lasting change in communities worldwide. Our biggest investment lies in helping the world understand what Orbis achieves every day. We’re incredibly proud of this partnership and the lives it helps transform.”