(VNF) - 47 poor patients from the Mekong Delta region last week received free cataract surgery at FV Hospital’s Ophthalmology Ward in Ho Chi Minh City.

The surgery was performed by the hospital’s doctors in co-operation with the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) to celebrate their 10-year partnership for patients.

Patient Nguyen Thi Mai, 77 and living in Ho Chi Minh City, who had earlier received free cataract operation from the partnership at FV, said she was pleased with the surgery result. “I can see clearly now. My eyesight has recovered well.” (Photo Courtesy of FV Hospital)

The patients were officially recognised by local authorities for not being affordable for cataract surgery, and were grouped together by Huong Sen Charity Clinic in An Giang province for their sight recovering trip to FV.

The patients are examined and receive doctor consultation at FV. Then doctors of FV and SNEC work together for group consultation and determine the disease level before concluding the treatment plan.

The two hospitals also provided free medical instruments and consumables for the operation as well as travel and accommodation costs for the patients.

The hospital partnership, which supports patients with eye diseases from Vietnam get access to advanced treatment for complex eye conditions such as retinal and corneal diseases, FV Hospital launched in 2006 its cooperation partnership with SNEC, one of the region’s leading eye hospitals.

Over the past 10 years, almost 2,300 patients have been examined at FV by SNEC doctors and specialists, nearly 400 of them sent to SNEC for further follow-up and treatment.

In celebration of embarking on the next era of success, FV and SNEC will maintain their joint efforts in support of more people in Vietnam./.

( Compiled by VNF )