DA NANG, Vietnam, April 2, 2012—The Vietnamese community will have the opportunity for critical sight-saving medical care from the FedEx-sponsored ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital serving Central Vietnam, April 2-20. FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and ORBIS International are bringing the world’s only eye surgical and training hospital with wings, the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital, back to Da Nang and Hue, Vietnam.
ORBIS is conducting a three-week medical program, in partnership with both Da Nang Eye Hospital and Hue Eye Hospital, to deliver clinical examinations and surgeries to those suffering with blindness and visual impairments. The program also offers an opportunity for local doctors to receive continuing medical education.
This program will mark the fifth Flying Eye Hospital program to take place in Vietnam and its fourth in Da Nang since 2006.
“ORBIS is very excited to return Da Nang for the Flying Eye Hospital Program,” said David Johnson, Flying Eye Hospital director at ORBIS International. “Returning here represents a shift from focusing on Da Nang Eye Hospital as a trainee partner to recognizing it as a training partner. Together with FedEx and our local partners, we will address the leading and emerging causes of blindness, including cataract, diabetic retinopathy and pediatric eye disease, while we continue to raise awareness of avoidable blindness”
“By continuing our commitment and financial support to ORBIS, we are very happy to work together to improve the lives of millions of people around the world in general,and in Vietnam in particular, who are going to receive the gift of sight,” said Mr. Nguyen Duy Binh, senior manager of Indochina, chief representative of FedEx Vietnam. “Through their education outreach, the benefits of the medical care reach many other parts of the country so that more and more people will be saved from avoidable blindness.”