Australian foundation treats eye defects

Illustrative image (Source: Internet)

Australia’s Fred Hollows Foundation has provided medical care for thousands of people with eye defects in the northern province of Thai Binh through its three-year project.

According to Hoang Van Mieng from the Thai Binh Eye Hospital, since 2012 the project has annually performed surgeries free-of-charge for between 700 and 800 old and poor patients with cataracts while provide free check-ups and medicines for residents in 15 communes of the province.

Through assistance from the project, the Thai Binh Eye Hospital examined 17,700 patients at 76 communes in Thai Thuy and Vu Thu districts in the first six months of 2015.

The project has also held medical examinations for primary and secondary students with refractive errors and poor eyesight, providing 450 pairs of glasses to disadvantaged pupils.

It has helped train and improve the knowledge of eye doctors and nurses at hospitals and health centres and 80 percent of the medical staff in all communes.

Thai Binh is one of the five provinces in the north region receiving sponsorship from the project from 2012-2015.-VNA