Spotlight: Small surgeries make big difference -- Belt and Road project brings sight, new hope to cataract patients in Cambodia

Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-19 11:36:55|Editor: Lu Hui
Video PlayerClose

by Mao Pengfei, Nguon Sovan

KAMPONG CHAM, Cambodia, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Sum Meyle, a mother of five children, was on cloud nine when she heard that a Chinese medical team, under the Belt and Road Cataract Blindness Eradication Campaign, was on a mission to provide free cataract surgeries here.

Could not afford a surgery cost, the 36-year-old mother had lived with cataract on her left eye for years. Recently, however, her eye condition got worse and forced her to quit a job as a security guard in Phnom Penh. "A cataract surgery on my left eye would cost 350 U.S. dollars in Phnom Penh," she told Xinhua, "I don't have any savings and can't afford it."

Meyle divorced her husband almost six years ago because of domestic violence, and a injury to the eye was the cause of her cataract. Poverty has forced her two teenage daughters to make a living by working respectively in a hair salon and a noodle shop in Phnom Penh, and her two sons to live in an orphanage in Prey Veng province. She is currently living with her six-year-old daughter in a tiny rented room that costs her 15 U.S. dollars per month.

To this single mother, the news of Chinese doctors providing free cataract surgeries in Kampong Cham Provincial Hospital was like a beam of light in the dark night.

Wearing her hair in a thick long braid, Meyle was in a dark blue shirt with white dots. "I came here for the examination and luckily had the surgery on the same day," Meyle told Xinhua at the hospital.

She came to see the Chinese doctors the day after the surgery to remove the eye bandages. "I got up at 4 o'clock with both worry and excitement."

Her fears had disappeared after the bandages were removed. Her eyesight was restored.

BELT AND ROAD PROJECT TO ERADICATE CATARACTS

In Cambodia, cataracts are the main cause of blindness, said Por Norin, head of the ophthalmology unit of the Kampong Cham Provincial Hospital, adding that, according to a national estimate, about 0.32 percent of the country's 16 million people have cataracts.

"Our country's weather is hot, so for our people, especially farmers, who work under sunlight, they are more vulnerable to cataracts than those whose jobs are not exposed to sunlight," he said.

Meyle was one of thousands of Cambodian patients who were attracted to Kampong Cham Provincial Hospital by this free cataract surgeries project -- the Belt and Road Cataract Blindness Eradication Campaign.

The campaign, launched in Cambodia in May, 2018, by several Chinese entities and with cooperation of Cambodian Ministry of Health, will offer an 18-month free surgery for all cataract patients in Kampong Cham province, which was estimated at around 8,000.

Under the project, China had sent groups of ophthalmologists, along with two large vehicles equipped with modern medical equipment, to the Kampong Cham Provincial Hospital for cataract surgeries.

The latest group of three doctors and three nurses, from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University (FAHGMU), China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, was the fourth team providing free surgeries in Cambodia under this project.

From dawn to dusk, the Chinese doctors, in cooperation with their Cambodian counterparts, work relentlessly to provide eye consultation, examination and surgeries on dozens of cataract patients every day.

Liang Hao, an ophthalmologist from FAHGMU and the leader of this team, told Xinhua that in order to provide better medical treatment to local patients, she visited Cambodia last year to prepare for this mission.

"Many patients in rural areas in Cambodia cannot afford this surgery, and have no choice but to live with cataracts or even in darkness for years. They cannot work and some think themselves as burdens of their family," Liang said.

"Mission is not complicated, since cataract surgeries are not very difficult. But we are proud of joining this project because we can help Cambodian patients restore their eye-sight and pursue a better life," she said.

According to Norin, if a patient seeks a surgery service at private hospitals or clinics, the cost for a surgery on one-eye cataract is between 300 U.S. dollars and 500 dollars.

"For our people, this project is very good because they can have their cataracts operated free of charge. Moreover, the Chinese doctors have high skills and use modern equipment to remove cataracts, and the result of post-cataract surgeries is good," he said.

KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND FUTURE COOPERATION

"We are here not only for the patients, but also for the local ophthalmologists," said Liang. She said that knowledge sharing and skills training had been a very important part in this project.

"We work together with local doctors and nurses and show them how to use the equipment in this mobile eye-clinic, so that even after this project is finished, they can still do cataract surgeries for local patients with those modern equipment," Liang said, adding that they also prepared a series of lectures for the local counterparts.

Yin Sinath, director of the Kampong Cham Provincial Hospital, said, "Currently, our doctors are learning from the Chinese doctors and practicing surgeries at the same time, so I think that 18 months are enough for our doctors to learn on how to use those pieces of medical equipment."

He said the equipment will be handed over to the hospital when the project is completed, and their hospital also needs China's assistance in the fields of emergency rescue and surgeries on various diseases.

"As the director of the Cambodia's Kampong Cham Provincial Hospital, I want cooperation between Chinese hospitals and the Kampong Cham Provincial Hospital in the field of emergency rescue because our hospital is a bit far from the capital city," he said.

"We want China to help establish an actual emergency rescue unit that is properly equipped with modern medical equipment," he added.

Besides, the hospital also sought cooperation with Chinese hospitals to set up a well-equipped surgery unit to serve the surgeries of various diseases such as stomach, bone, bladder, brain and so on, Sinath said.

FURTHER STRENGTHENING PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE BONDS

In Cambodia, the Belt and Road Initiative is not only driving the economic and infrastructure development, but also promoting more projects like this to improve common people's life.

Kimsour Phirun, director of the Kampong Cham Provincial Health Department, expressed his profound gratitude to the government and people of China, especially the Chinese medical team, for sparing no efforts to help restore sight for cataract patients in the province.

"We think this project is crucial for our people, especially the poor in rural areas," he said. "Such a project is really helpful to promote closer relations between Cambodian and Chinese peoples."

"We hope that from now until the end of 2019, all cataract patients in Kampong Cham province will have their cataracts removed," he said.

"This project is important to prevent blindness for rural people and reduce poverty in Cambodia," he said, adding that with better eye-sight the patients will have chances to find better jobs, make more money and better support their families.

After over one month in Cambodia, Liang told Xinhua that she was deeply impressed by the friendship between China and Cambodia. "They trust us. Although I cannot speak Khmer, I can feel it. When we visited their home, their hospitality was beyond our expectation. We hope to do more for our Cambodian friends."

After the surgery, Meyle came up with a new plan. "I will try to find a new job in garment factory. The surgery is like giving me a new life because with my eyesight, I can go to earn money to feed my children and maybe in the future I can build a small house for us," she said. "I have nothing to give back, but to say thanks to the doctors for their surgery to regain my vision."

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011102351379901271
乐发彩票中心 大发app 凤凰彩票app 乐发iv游戏平台 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发彩票 乐发彩票app下载 大发彩票 乐发v官网 乐发lll 乐发lv入口 乐发iv首页 乐发ll登录 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发官网 乐发ii下载入口 乐发ll 乐发v平台 乐发v官网 乐发lll 乐发lv入口 乐发iv首页 乐发ll登录 乐发lv 乐发lll安装 乐发lv 乐发登录入口 乐发iv游戏平台 凤凰彩票登录 网信彩票 彩神 彩神彩票官方网站 彩神彩票官网首页 彩神官方app下载安卓版 凤凰彩票登录 彩神v3 凤凰彩票app下载 彩神官方app下载安卓版 网信快三 一分快3 快三彩票购彩平台 凤凰彩票官方 快3官网 网信彩票 快3app 网信彩票平台 百姓彩票平台 网信平台官网 快3app下载 百姓彩票 每日彩票 快3app 百姓彩票 每日彩票 快3app 百姓彩票平台 幸运5分彩快3 快3彩票app下载 百姓彩票网站网址 大发10分PK10 快3下载 网信彩票平台 网信平台官网 快3彩票官网app 凤凰彩票官方 彩神彩票 大发10分PK10 彩神v3 大发彩票app下载 百姓彩票网站网址 彩神购彩平台 每日彩票 官方正规快三彩票平台 彩神彩票购彩平台 百姓彩票 凤凰彩票购彩平台 凤凰彩票app下载 彩神官方app下载安卓版 网信快三 一分快3 快三彩票购彩平台 凤凰彩票官方 彩神彩票 大发10分PK10 彩神v3 凤凰彩票登录 乐发lv 乐发∨Il 百姓彩票网站网址 乐发彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 乐发lll安装 百姓彩票网站网址 凤凰彩票app下载 大发10分PK10 乐发2 乐发app 凤凰彩票 大发彩票app 乐发登录入口 乐发ll登录 乐发v官网 乐发官网 大发彩票app下载 凤凰彩票购彩平台 彩神彩票 官方正规快三彩票平台 一分快3 百姓彩票网站网址 凤凰彩票app下载 大发10分PK10 乐发2 乐发app 凤凰彩票 大发彩票app 乐发登录入口 乐发ll登录 乐发v官网 乐发官网 大发彩票app下载 凤凰彩票购彩平台 彩神彩票 官方正规快三彩票平台 1分快三平台 百姓彩票平台 凤凰彩票登录 幸运5分彩快3 彩神 乐发彩票 乐发 大发彩票 乐发iv游戏平台 乐发lv 乐发lll 乐发ii下载入口 乐发彩票官方网站 凤凰彩票官方网站 凤凰快3 彩神彩票官网首页 1分快三平台 百姓彩票平台 凤凰彩票登录 幸运5分彩快3 彩神 乐发彩票 乐发 大发彩票 乐发iv游戏平台 乐发lv 凤凰彩票app 乐发app 网信彩票平台 网信彩票平台 乐发iv游戏平台 凤凰彩票app 乐发lv 乐发彩票app下载 凤凰彩票app 网信彩票平台 乐发彩票app下载 乐发lv 乐发app 大发彩票安卓下载 大发彩票安卓下载 大发彩票 乐发彩票app下载 网信彩票平台 乐发iv游戏平台 彩神彩票 乐发彩票中心 极速快3彩票平台 人人快三凤凰 大发彩票app 大发彩票大全 乐发彩票 彩神彩票官方网站 乐发app 酷天堂彩票平台 凤凰彩票app下载 凤凰彩票大厅 凤凰彩票app 极速快3彩票平台 凤凰彩票 凤凰快3 乐发ll官网 乐发彩票中心 正规快三送彩金平台 凤凰彩票官方 乐发ll 乐发 网信彩票 彩神彩票 彩神彩票官方网站 大发彩票app 网信彩票用户 百姓快三 百姓彩票平台 乐发lv 乐发彩票app下载 彩信平台 网信彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 乐发∨Il 人人快三凤凰 凤凰彩票 凤凰快3 乐发ll官网 乐发彩票中心 正规快三送彩金平台 凤凰彩票官方 乐发ll 乐发 网信彩票 彩神彩票 彩神彩票官方网站 人人快三凤凰 乐发彩票 彩神彩票 乐发iv游戏平台 乐发彩票 大发彩票中心 凤凰彩票登录 凤凰彩票app 彩神彩票 大发彩票 乐发ll 大发彩票app 凤凰快3 凤凰彩票 彩神彩票 乐发ll 凤凰彩票 乐发lll 凤凰彩票大厅 网信彩票 彩神彩票 乐发lv 快盈彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 盈彩网投资平台 大发官网 一分时时彩 乐发lv 快3平台 凤凰快3 乐发ll 全民彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 百姓彩票 乐发彩票 大发彩票 极速快3 乐发app 大发官网 乐发lll 快3平台 凤凰快3 乐发ll 全民彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 百姓彩票 乐发彩票 大发彩票 极速快3 乐发app 彩神iv 大发彩票app 大小单双平台 一分pk10 乐发lv 快盈彩票 乐发官网 快彩彩票 百姓彩票 凤凰彩票大厅 网信彩票 乐发彩票中心 网信快3 乐发 彩神xl 三分快3 大发彩票 大发官网 乐发lll 快3平台 凤凰快3 乐发ll 全民彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 百姓彩票 乐发彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 大发彩票 乐发 分分快3 彩神vl 55世纪 55世纪 凤凰快3 乐发彩票 乐发lv welcome凤凰彩票 乐发ll 1分快3 彩神 彩神ll 1分快3官网 1分快3的平台 welcome凤凰彩票 三分快3 彩神x 彩神vl 凤凰彩票 彩神xl 大发彩票 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发官网 乐发ll 乐发lll 乐发lv 大发彩票app 大发彩票 乐发 乐发彩票 乐发彩票中心 凤凰快3 乐发彩票 彩神xl 腾讯快3 大发彩票 彩神xl 大发彩票 乐发彩票 大发彩票app 快3平台 乐发 1分快3 乐发彩票 彩神x 凤凰快3 彩神xl 彩吧助手 大发彩票app 快3平台 大发排列3 彩神iv 彩神vl 乐发IV 彩神x 一分pk10 大发排列3 乐发lv 快3彩票 乐发app下载 三分快3 快三平台助手 乐发彩票ll 彩神iv 乐发lll下载 盈彩网投资平台 乐发Ⅲ 一分pk10 凤凰彩票 乐发Vll 大发官网 乐发ll 大发彩票 乐发1 凤凰快3 彩神vl 乐发lx 百姓彩票 乐发VI 彩神x 乐发IV 极速快3 乐发 凤凰快3 网信快3 乐发lv 快3彩票 乐发app下载 三分快3 快三平台助手 乐发彩票ll 彩神iv 乐发lll下载 盈彩网投资平台 乐发Ⅲ 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发lv 乐发lv 乐发lv 凤凰彩票 大发彩票 大发彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 凤凰彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 乐发ll 凤凰彩票app下载 凤凰彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 乐发ll 凤凰彩票app下载 凤凰彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 彩神x 乐发 乐发ll 极速快3 乐发lv 乐发彩票中心 快3彩票 凤凰彩票大厅 彩神x 凤凰彩票app 分分快3 网信彩票 网盟彩票 凤凰彩票 百姓彩票 乐发 快彩彩票 乐发彩票 快3平台 百姓彩票 大小单双平台 凤凰快3 彩神xl 一分pk10 乐发lv 三分快3 大发彩票 乐发彩票 快3平台 百姓彩票 大小单双平台 凤凰快3 彩神xl 一分pk10 乐发lv 三分快3 大发彩票 极速快3 乐发ll 网信彩票 乐发lv 全民彩票 凤凰彩票app下载 快盈彩票 大发彩票app 大发官网 凤凰彩票 彩神iv 大发彩票 网信快3 凤凰彩票 百姓彩票