Vietjet’s Vice President Trần Hoài Nam and Maurice Geary, Director of Orbis Flying Eye Hospital shake hands after signing the MoU. VNS Photo

THỪA THIÊN HUẾ – Budget carrier Vietjet will co-ordinate with Orbis International from the US to bring bright eyes to Vietnamese people, following a long-term memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked between the two sides in the central province of Thừa Thiên Huế on Wednesday.

Under the MoU which aims to support more than two million disadvantaged people in the next three years, a project worth US$1 million will be kicked off by building retinal centres for preemies in two provinces of Đắk Lắk and Thanh Hóa.

Additionally, Vietjet will accompany Orbis to organise education programmes and events to improve knowledge of prevention of eye issues nationwide.

Orbis is an international non-profit non-governmental organisation dedicated to saving sight worldwide. Its Flying Eye Hospital (FEH) has been travelling around the world to help people in disadvantaged situations.

Vietjet's representatives pose for a photo in front of the Flying Eye Hospital of Orbis.  VNS Photo

The FEH has a wingspan of 50 metres, a height of 17.8 metres and a length of 55.3 metres, reaching the size of a Boeing 777 aircraft while the weight is heavier due to added machinery. The cabin area is 610 square meters and designed to be a small hospital. From the operating room, 3D eye surgeries are broadcast live to training centres around the world.

The flying hospital has come to Việt Nam 10 times and landed at six cities and provinces including HCM City, Hà Nội, Đà Nẵng, Bình Định, Cần Thơ and Thừa Thiên Huế. Since 2006, over 1,500 patients have been examined with nearly 800 adults and children receiving sight-saving surgery on board the plane.

On its second visit to Huế, FEH had assistance from Vietjet’s volunteers. Pilots, cabin crew and staff of Vietjet will help patients through their screening sessions, carefully guiding them to the surgeries in the modern aircraft equipped with up-to-date equipment and take care of them in the post-surgery stage. All of this is to help disadvantaged patients to be able to see the light as soon as possible. -- VNS