Kolkata: The world's only flying eye hospital - an international team of doctors aboard a modified aircraft - will land in the city Sep 9 to impart training to ophthalmologists and perform advanced surgeries onboard.

The mobile hospital would stay in the city for a fortnight.

A venture of U.S.-based NGO Orbis, the hospital has serviced 90 countries since its inception in 1982 and continues to bring in dedicated global volunteer training faculties in its fight against preventable blindness.

"In India, Orbis has focused on childhood blindness. We have had a full time presence on ground since 2000. To support that initiative, the flying hospital will arrive in Kolkata Sep 9," Rahul Ali, Orbis country director, told IANS.

Besides India, Orbis operates in Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, Ethiopia, South Africa, Zambia and Latin America and Caribbean.

Experts from the U.S., Britain and India comprise the team that will train not only ophthalmologists, but also offer valuable insights to support staff such as nurses, biomedical engineers, anaesthesiologists and paramedics.

"We need to train the supporting staff as well besides the core group, as it's a comprehensive work," said Ali.

Previously, the Orbis flying eye hospital had flown into this city in 2005.

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