Marking the 20th anniversary of Orbis’s sight-saving work in Macao, the world’s only Flying Eye Hospital returned to the city after a decade and held its first ophthalmic professional training programme in Macao with simulation-based teaching at its core. As a supporting organiser, the Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau (KWNC) provided the venue and coordinated course arrangements. The training was held from 9 to 11 September and 16 to 18 September at the College’s Objective Structured Clinical Examination Centre and classrooms, covering “sterile supply and instrument processing,” “operating room nursing and equipment safety,” and “recovery room nursing and perioperative emergencies.”
 
70 Healthcare Professionals from 8 Mainland Hospitals Attend Training
According to Orbis, the programme invited 70 ophthalmologists and nurses from eight partner hospitals across 11 cities in Mainland China to Macao for advanced training at the Flying Eye Hospital and KWNC. The training covered cataract, glaucoma, strabismus, medical retina, and specialised ophthalmic nursing. These healthcare professionals are expected to serve more than 245,000 patients in Mainland China each year in the future.
 
Faculty and Students Step Inside the Flying Eye Hospital
As the training was held at the College, faculty members and students were able to take part in the programme at close range. They attended training sessions as observers and were also arranged to board the aircraft for a visit, gaining first-hand insight into the daily operations of this “mobile hospital”. Orbis also held two nursing-themed forums at the College, which were open to faculty members and students. More than 100 faculty and student participations were recorded across the full series of activities, allowing participants to fully seize this valuable opportunity for professional learning in ophthalmology and international exchange, while also appreciating the deeper values behind the initiative.
 
Doctoral student Lam Ting Ting shared, “The entire experience was truly eye-opening. It was not only my first time stepping inside the Flying Eye Hospital, but also an opportunity to rethink the meaning of healthcare and nursing. Truly valuable assistance is not limited to curing immediate illnesses; it also means leaving behind skills and cultivating talent. Beyond professional competence, nursing responds to the needs of patients and the times with empathy, compassion, and continuous learning.”
 
Orbis Sends Letter of Appreciation
The successful organisation of this training programme involved extensive and meticulous preparation. Over several months, the Orbis team and the College communicated closely and conducted site visits to ensure that the most appropriate venue and equipment support could be provided for the training.
After the programme concluded, Orbis sent a letter of appreciation to the College, expressing gratitude for its coordination and support over the past months. Orbis stated that, with the College’s strong assistance, the training was able to be completed smoothly and successfully. It also thanked faculty members and students for their enthusiastic participation, which helped further promote Orbis’s spirit of “teaching people to fish.”