The programme titled 'Orbis Plane Programme, Chittagong- 2005' is aimed at training ophthalmologists, nurses, ophthalmic assistants and biomedical engineers to strengthen the capacity of in-country eye care service.

Chittagong Eye Infirmary and Training Complex and Ophthalmological Society of Bangladesh, Chittagong chapter have organised the most technologically advanced training programme for the second time in Chittagong after September 2002.

It is the eighth visit of Orbis in Bangladesh since 1985.

Speakers at the inaugural ceremony on SAIA premises in the morning hoped that the expertise and skills of the local eye-care professionals would increase significantly through on-hand training, lectures, symposia, computerised simulation and surgical demonstrations at Orbis Flying Eye Hospital in preventing blindness in the country.

They said with seven lakh blind people and forty thousand blind children, Bangladesh has one of the highest prevalence of blindness in the world.

It was due to lack of awareness and education on eye care issues amongst the general public, particularly the rural people, they added.

The speakers also hoped that the programme would create public awareness, which is so vital to improve the situation, alongside the transfer of technology and sharing of experiences.

Director General of Health Service Prof Shahadat Hossain and OSB President Prof MA Hadi Faquir were the chief guest and special guest respectively at the inaugural ceremony presided over by Prof Dr Rabiul Husain, chairman of Orbis Plane Programme Organising Committee.

Orbis Flying Eye Hospital Director Drew Boshell, Medical Director Gordon Doglus, Country Director of Orbis in Bangladesh Dr Md. Khairul Islam and Dr SM Tareq of OSB, Chittagong also spoke on the occasion.

The organisers informed the audience that Orbis plans to conduct the flying eye hospital programme at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet during its next visit in Bangladesh and gradually at other places of Bangladesh if the concerned airport authorities provide the facilities and other requisites.

A 30-member multinational staff as well as volunteer doctors, nurses and anesthesiologist from the USA, the UK and Ireland would conduct the programme that focuses training on sub-specialities of retina, paediatric ophthalmology and cornea operations.

Surgical operations would be conducted on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday every week during the flying eye hospital's stay here, sources said.

About one hundred patients will receive consultations and medical treatment while some 45 patients would receive surgical and laser treatment during the period, they added.

Dr David Laws of the UK, Dr Clifford Salinger of the USA and Dr Michael Eckstein of the UK would conduct the surgical operation and other demonstrations in the firs week.

Dr Wayne Fung, Dr Scott Olitsky and Dr Michael Vrabec of the USA would be there during the concluding week.

Anesthesiologist Dr Andrew Choyce and nurse Ann Marie Ablett of the UK would be there for providing volunteer service.