Investing in training 

Dr Phuong is proud to say she has worked for one employer in her 32-year career in ophthalmology, serving the people of Phu Yen province in central Vietnam.

After graduating in 1991, Dr Phuong started work the next year at Phu Yen's eye station, which would later become a specialist eye hospital.

"I love being an ophthalmologist. I love eye care, and I love the hospital so much. I can see this is my second home," she said.

Dr Phuong even volunteered to decorate the hospital walls to create a welcoming environment for patients and their families.

"I love painting, and I wanted my hospital to be more beautiful," she said.

The Phu Yen Eye Hospital was built in 2011 with the support of The Fred Hollows Foundation and treats between 500 and 700 patients a day.

Phu Yen Eye Hospital is about to enter the next phase of its development after signing a partnership agreement with The Foundation to become a learning hospital.

Under the four-year 'Working Towards a Learning Eye Hospital' project, Phu Yen Eye Hospital will showcase its patient care model and practices to other organisations in Vietnam as well as The Foundation's country offices.

With the hospital's new role as a learning hospital, Dr Phuong is grateful to help equip more eye doctors with the skills and tools to eliminate avoidable blindness—just as Fred did.
 

Dr Phuong (right), is reunited with Malo (middle) and his mother (left) 15 years after she operated on him to treat bilateral congenital cataracts. Malo, then age 9, was Dr Phuong's first patient following her training by the Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology with the support of The Fred Hollows Foundation.

Fred's Vision lives on in Vietnam 

Training local eye health workers like Dr Phuong embodies our belief in the capacity of communities to help themselves. We understand that by equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills they need, they can teach others. It's a ripple effect: training one surgeon can set in motion a chain of transformation, where they, in turn, train hundreds more. 

When Fred first visited Vietnam in 1992 to introduce modern surgical training and techniques, there were only 50 cataract operations performed using intraocular lenses each year.   

Today, more than 1,000 surgeons in Vietnam have received modern cataract surgery training—a testament to Fred Hollows' enduring legacy. These surgeons perform at least 250,000 cataract surgeries every year.
 

Beyond eye doctors and nurses 

Fred understood the vital role played by grassroots community health workers in helping those in remote areas access eye health services. Community health workers are the driving force behind our mission.  

They tirelessly go door-to-door, spreading awareness about eye screenings, organising transport to distant hospitals for surgeries, and providing vital support to patients who have been unable to access health care. 

Honouring Fred's legacy 

The impact of Fred Hollows in Vietnam is immeasurable. Continuing Fred's legacy, The Foundation will continue its commitment to enhance eye care services in Phu Yen, one of Vietnam's most economically disadvantaged provinces. Through increased investment, our mission is to significantly reduce the burdens faced by those affected by preventable blindness.

The importance of eye health cannot be overstated, as it is the key to enabling people to participate in the workforce, attend school, and elevate their families out of poverty. This significance is especially apparent in agricultural societies like Phu Yen, where livelihoods are intricately tied to labour-intensive activities.

Thanks to the unwavering support of people like yourself, The Foundation will continue to invest in training and building local skills.