The Department of Health of the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau on July 30 launched the second phase of an eye care project funded by the Australian Government.

Building on the results of the first phase from 2011 to 2013, the extended project will be implemented via the Brien Holden Vision Institute, in Tan Thanh and Chau Duc districts during one year.

The Australian institute will assist eye health communication activities of the Ba Ria – Vung Tau Eye Hospital and help improve the capacity of medical staff.

It will also aid Tan Thanh and Chau Duc in setting up two optical clinics, providing 62,340 USD to procure equipment.

During the first phase, the project was carried out in Xuyen Moc and Dat Do district, under which more than 20 ophthalmologists and technicians and over 300 local medical staff received intensive training.

The project also provided eye check-ups for some 40,000 students at 56 secondary schools and presented 4,000 pairs of spectacles for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Three optical clinics were also established in the districts and have offered services to more than 15,000 people.-VNA