Can Tho (VNA) – The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, which owned by the international non-governmental humanitarian organisation Orbis, said it will provide free eye check-ups and operations for people in Can Tho city and some other Mekong Delta localities.
During a working session with leaders of the municipal People’s Committee on May 12, Bui Thi Van Anh, a representative from the Orbis Vietnam, said the hospital’s medical staff will work with their counterparts from the Can Tho Eye and Odonto- Stomatology Hospital to run a free surgery programme for patients living with eye-related diseases that can cause blindness in the locality in 2017.
A training course of ophthalmology will also be arranged for doctors from the Vietnamese hospital, aiming to improve their surgical skills of congenital cataract and refraction, she stated.
According to Anh, the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital project has visited 92 nations worldwide. In Vietnam, the project has successfully implementing its free eye surgery programme in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Hue, contributing to bettering the skills of local medical workers in eye caring.
Vice Chairman of the Can Tho People’s Committee Le Van Tam said the city will create the most favourable conditions for the Orbis hospital to effectively operate in the locality.
The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital is the world's only airborne ophthalmic surgical and training facility, while ORBIS is working to support developing countries in preventing blindness and protecting eyesight for their people.
In Vietnam, ORBIS helped form five pediatric eye care centres in Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang, Can Tho and Binh Dinh, with a view to preventing and early treating diseases that can cause blindness for children.
Statistics of the Orbis Vietnam show that Vietnam has about 3 million children living with impaired eyesight, and over 23,000 others are blind in both eyes.-VNA