Thousands of people in rural Vietnam will have their sight restored thanks to a new eye hospital in Phu Yen Province.

Phu Yen Eye Hospital will serve around 44,000 patients per year from the rice-growing province, and surrounding areas.

The Foundation constructed the hospital – the first in the region - with support from partner Atlantic Philanthropies and the Vietnam Government.

“The Foundation is proud to be bringing high-quality eye care to the people of Phu Yen, one of the country’s poorest provinces,” said The Foundation’s CEO Brian Doolan.

“When Fred first visited Vietnam in 1992 to introduce modern surgical training and techniques there were only 1,000 cataract operations using intraocular lenses each year.

“This figure is now around 160,000 a year – but there is still much to be done to eradicate avoidable blindness in Vietnam.”

A new eye hospital for the region means blindness sufferers won’t have to wait long periods or travel further afield for treatment of cataract and other blindness causing eye conditions.  

To meet the local need, there are 50 beds and specialised facilities for treating glaucoma, eye trauma and infectious conditions. Patients will also benefit from well-equipped operating and recovery rooms and up-to-date medical equipment. 

The eye facility took 12 months to build and is part of a six-year Community Eye Care project between the partners. Its opening coincides with the 400th anniversary of the founding of Phu Yen. It was officially inaugurated at a ceremony last week attended by The Foundation’s Country Manager Dr Huynh Tan Phuc, health system figures including Professor Nguyen Trong Nhan and representatives from Vietnamese eye care organisations.

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