AN EYE doctor left behind the familiar surroundings of his York clinic to climb on board a specially-converted aircraft and join a roaming teaching hospital in Africa.

Mike Hayward, a consultant ophthalmologist from York who practices at York Hospital, has successfully completed his first Ghana Flying Eye Hospital programme.

He was volunteering with ORBIS, an international charity that cures and prevents blindness in developing countries by transferring sight-saving skills to local medical professionals.

Mr Hayward was involved in ORBIS's training project onboard its unique Flying Eye Hospital, a DC-10 aircraft transformed into a roving teaching eye hospital during its second programme in Accra, Ghana.

He spent a week working with trainees Dr Ewusi and Dr Lartey, sharing skills, ideas and best practice, while examining, operating and providing aftercare to those who were selected for teaching surgery.

His visit was part of a three-week programme in Ghana's capital city and was hosted by Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital And Military Hospital.

Most of the programme took place on board the Flying Eye Hospital and aimed to strengthen the Ghanaian ophthalmic community's ability to tackle the issue of avoidable blindness.

This is done by training local ophthalmologists to diagnose and treat cataracts, strabismus, glaucoma, eyelid and orbital disease, and diabetic retinopathy.

On his return, Mike said: "I very much enjoyed the experience of visiting Ghana as a volunteer for ORBIS. I will also try to keep in touch with the trainees."

"It was a real eye-opener into the lack of facilities that the people in Ghana have. They have 50 opthalmologists for the whole of Ghana - there's tremendous need there."

The Flying Eye Hospital medical director, Gordon Douglas, has paid tribute to his contribution.

"Mike is a first-timer who acted as a veteran," he said.

"He showed no frustration with the Flying Eye Hospital and its different instruments.

"He was extremely patient with questions as well as the usual things that can go wrong on a mission. His quiet manner was ideal for teaching.

"He did an outstanding job of responding to the needs of the Ghanaians at all levels."

The Ghana Health Service estimates that 200,000 out of 20 million Ghanaians are blind, with cataract blindness accounting for half of these cases.

During this programme, 17 ophthalmologists received direct training in incision surgery and a number also participated in a variety of laser procedures.

The Flying Eye Hospital visit received considerable attention from the Ghanaian national government. The vice- president, minister of health and deputy minister of health all visited the Flying Eye Hospital.