Vietnam currently has 500,000 blind people, mainly caused by cataracts, trachoma, and glocoma, said the Director of the Central Eye Hospital at an international workshop in Hanoi on December 14.
According to Director Ton Thi Kim Thanh, Vietnam is trying to eradicate the xerophthalmia caused by vitamin A shortage, in order to reduce the rate of blindness.
Vietnam is now implementing many programmes to provide operations for the removal of cataracts. Between 90,000 and 100,000 will have been treated by the end of this year, vitamin A tablets provided to children under five, and eye examinations given to 2mil people.
Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thi Xuyen presented the “For the People’s Health” medal to three Japanese professors, who have contributed to Vietnamese ophthalmologic doctors capabilities to reduce blindness in Vietnam.
(Source: Tuoi Tre) |