‘Hospital with wings’ lands in Doha

Qatar Airways welcomed the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital to Doha International Airport with an official reception.
The medical training facility housed within a MD-10 aircraft will be on display until 29 March as part of a tour to raise awareness about preventable blindness and its impact on developing countries.
The plane, which has touched down in London and Ireland over the last few weeks, will offer students, medical professionals and partners the opportunity to explore the hospital with wings.
While in Doha, the Flying Eye Hospital will promote Qatar Creating Vision, an eye health initiative that brings together three charities and 19 hospitals with the aim of providing 5.5m child eye tests and treatments to children in India and Bangladesh before 2020.
The Doha reception was attended by Ajay Sharma, British Ambassador to the State of Qatar, Ashud Ahmed, Bangladeshi Ambassador to Qatar, and Misfir Hamad Al-Shahwani, executive director of Qatar Fund for Development. A welcome speech was delivered by Hamad International Airport vice president commercial and marketing, Abdulaziz Al Mass.
Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar Al Baker said: “Qatar Airways strongly believes in giving back to the global community. When you have the power to contribute towards making a difference, it is your obligation to do so.
"As an airline that connects communities and people around the world, we are delighted to have supported Orbis since 2012."
He continued: “We are proud to host the Flying Eye Hospital, and its arrival is a great way to draw attention to the work of Qatar Creating Vision. The initiative is highly commendable, helping give visually impaired children the chance to see again by providing them access to much-needed eye care.”