Orbis returns to Da Nang for fifth mission
DNO - The Orbis International, in coordination with the Da Nang Department of Health, officially launched the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital Program 2026 at Da Nang International Airport on Tuesday.
The visit marks the fifth time the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital has come to Da Nang and commemorates 20 years of Orbis’ partnership with Viet Nam since its first mission in 2006.
Attending the opening ceremony were Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People's Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi, President and CEO of Orbis International Kathleen Sherwin, and representatives from the Ministry of Health and other international organizations and agencies.
The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital 2026 program runs for nearly three weeks from July 20 to August 7. It brings together more than 20 ophthalmology specialists and international volunteers from seven countries.
In-person training activities are being conducted aboard the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital and at the Da Nang Eye Hospital.
Over 230 Vietnamese ophthalmologists, doctors and nurses are expected to receive practical training through simulations, hands-on instruction, and clinical workshops.
The training focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of the leading causes of preventable blindness, with specialized courses covering cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and oculoplastic surgery.
This year’s Orbis Flying Eye Hospital operates aboard an MD-10 aircraft donated and converted by FedEx into a third-generation flying teaching hospital.
The Flying Eye Hospital is the world’s only accredited mobile ophthalmic teaching facility. It features a fully equipped operating room, classroom and advanced simulation center onboard the aircraft.
Speaking at the opening remarks, Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Anh Thi thanked Orbis International and its sponsors for their longstanding commitment and valuable support to eye care in Viet Nam, particularly in Da Nang, over the past two decades.
She emphasized that Orbis’ return to Da Nang will not only provide eye examinations and treatment for hundreds of patients but also strengthen the professional capacity of ophthalmologists in the city and the central region.
The initiative will help build a highly skilled eye care workforce and lay the foundation for expanding access to sustainable eye care services for people in the Central and Central Highlands regions.
She voiced her hope that Orbis International and its sponsors will continue supporting Da Nang’s healthcare sector in the years ahead, contributing to improved public health and medical services.
Orbis International is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing blindness and restoring sight for children and adults in areas with limited access to healthcare.
More than 40 years ago, Orbis pioneered its Flying Eye Hospital model, an ophthalmic teaching hospital aboard an aircraft that delivers specialized training and eye care to regions where they are needed most.
In Vietnam, Orbis began its work in 1996. Over the past 30 years, the organization has trained more than 40,000 eye care professionals and helped expand access to quality eye care services for millions of people nationwide.