HCM City association brings light to 500,000 poor patients

Thứ Hai, 24/10/2016, 09:44

HCMC - The Ho Chi Minh City Sponsoring Association for Poor Patients on October 22 organised free-of-charge operations for 200 poor patients suffering from cataract at the Nguyen Trai Hospital and celebrated the 500,000th case in the past 20 years.

Most of the patients came from Mekong Delta and southeastern provinces.

The operations, which cost 7-8 million VND (358 USD) each, helped many old people see the light again.

Tran Thanh Long, President of the association, said each year, the association offer eye surgery to around 20,000 patients, including those from the neighbouring countries of Laos and Cambodia.

Total cost to cover surgery for 500,000 patients is around 300 billion VND (13.5 million USD), which was donated by many philanthropists across the nation.

Vo Thi Dung, Vice Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee, said this is a significant programme which brings not only the light but also happiness to poor patients.

Dung said the association needs to continue the cause to bring the total number of beneficiaries to 1 million in the next few years.

Besides eye surgery, the association also offers heart and cleft palate surgery to disadvantaged children and gives wheelchairs to the disabled.

VNA