Bringing Light to Nearly 6,000 Poor People

Since 2008, the Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology (VNIO) has performed free eye surgery for nearly 6,000 poor people across the country. From June 3-15, the VNIO’s mobile eye surgeons will offer free eye surgery to 200 poor people in Hai Hau district, Nam Dinh province and 100 others in Bac Giang province with funding from the World Health Organization (WHO). In the first six months of this year they have performed eye surgery for 800 poor people in Vinh Phuc, Lang Son, Ha Nam, and Yen Bai provinces and others living in Lao province of Bolikhamxay with funding from the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, An Vien Company and the Asia for blindness prevention (AFBP). VNIO has encouraged benefactors, businesses and international organizations to raise funds for poor people in remote and mountainous areas to undergo eye surgery. (vovnews.vn June 2)