Charity organization provides free cataract operations to rural Tibetans

15:57, November 02, 2009

Charity organization provides free cataract operations to rural Tibetans

Dandan Drolma, 82, paid a subsequent visit to doctors for her eyes at the People's Hospital of Lhunzhub County on Friday morning. She was sick with cataract and just had an operation days ago.

"I lived in darkness for the past three years," she said while touching her daughter's face excitedly. "Now, I am able to see the bright sun and the faces of my children. I feel so happy."

From Oct. 27-29, doctors from the Lhasa Bright Ophthalmology Rehabilitation Clinic of the Aid-Tibet Foundation performed free cataract operations on 100 farmers and herdsmen from Lhunzhub County. Oct. 30 was the day for a re-check.

Photo taken on Oct. 29, 2009 shows doctors from the Lhasa Bright Ophthalmology Rehabilitation Clinic performing a catract operation in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua Photo)

As Tibet is located on the "roof of the world" with a very high altitude, the air is thinner and ultraviolet radiation is stronger, said Cidan Dorje, a doctor of the clinic. Therefore, quite a few farmers and herdsmen are suffering from various kinds of eye diseases.

Of the diseases, cataract is the most common and it has adversely affected the daily life and work of the locals, he added.

In order to help cataract patients regain their eyesight, the Aid-Tibet Foundation launched in 1993 the "Bright project -- regain the eyesight campaign," with the aim of providing free cataract operations to patients from remote and poor rural areas in Tibet.

So far, the foundation has financed operations on more than 30,000 patients. After the recheck, Tenzin Lhamo presented hadas -- a token of good luck according to Tibetan customs -- to the doctors of the foundation.

Holding the hands of the doctors in her hands, the 83-year-old said gratefully, "Thank you so much for helping me regaining my eyesight. Now I can see my new house with my own eyes and feed my cows."

Set up in 2005, the Lhasa Bright Ophthalmology Rehabilitation Clinics is Tibet's first non-profit organization that provides medical services related to eye diseases. It has advanced equipment and facilities for eye operations, as well as experienced doctors.

Founded in 1987, the Aid-Tibet Foundation is the first state-approved, inter-provincial non-governmental charity organization.

Source: Xinhua