An Interview with an ORBIS Doctor
Interviewer: Dr Ma, please tell us something about blindness.
Dr Ma: About 285 million people around the world are blind or have other eye problems, mostly in poor areas, and about 80 percent of these cases can be prevented or cured. However, many people don't have money for medical treatment.
Interviewer: How does ORBIS help?
Dr Ma: ORBIS uses its Flying Eye Hospital to visit poor areas. On the plane, volunteer doctors do operations. The plane is also used as a training centre.
Interviewer: Why don't you work in a hospital?
Dr Ma: Many of our patients can't afford to go to hospital, so we have to go to them. Also, local doctors and nurses are invited on board to learn about eye operations. We can teach them new skills. By training them, we hope to help more people.
Interviewer: How many operations do you do during a visit?
Dr Ma: During my last visit, 150 patients were operated on.
Interviewer: You're doing a really important job.
Dr Ma: Thank you. I'm proud to help people see again and improve their lives.
Interviewer: Is there anything else you'd like to say to our readers?
Dr Ma: Yes. Modern medicine is developing quickly and now most eye problems and diseases can be treated and cured. But more money is needed to carry on with our work. We hope more people will support us.
Interviewer: Thank you very much for your time, Dr Ma.