Some 350 eye patients in remote areas of Tra Vinh province recently received free surgeries as part of the Mekong Delta locality’s progamme supporting visually impaired low-income people. Doctors from hospitals of Cau Ke and Tra Cu districts and the Nguyen Trai Hospital of Ho Chi Minh City performed the operations on July 12 for the beneficiaries, who are those of the Khmer ethnic group in the districts. Le Hung Cuong from the Tra Vinh Red Cross said the surgeries and medicine, worth over VND875 million ($41,700), were funded by three philanthropists from HCM City. Over the past couple of years, Tra Vinh has given eye check-ups to more than 17,900 people, mostly from its rural areas. The local Red Cross and association for support of the disabled, orphans and poor patients have raised fund for eye operations for 2,400 patients. (vietnamplus.vn July 14)
