Chinese medical team provides free eye surgery to patients in Laos

(Photo provided by the Chinese medical team)

China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) has sent a 14-personnel medical team to provide free services to people in Laos, People’s Daily Online reported Monday.

The medical team consists of nine doctors from Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) in Beijing and five nurses from First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University in Yunnan.

Their mission will last from Nov. 6 to 16, during which they will perform 300 cataract surgeries for Laotians in Vientiane, said Zhong Yong, director of PUMCH’s Department of Ophthalmology and leader of the medical team.

Zhong Yong, director of PUMCH’s Department of Ophthalmology and leader of the medical team (Photo/Wu Chengliang)

Zhong said the team has brought medical supplies to Laos and will leave them with local hospitals. The Chinese doctors will also pass on their techniques to their Lao counterparts during surgeries.

Zhong said they will try to create more opportunities for Lao doctors to study in Chinese hospitals and institutions in the future.

After surgery, a grateful cataract patient said: “Thank you, Chinese doctors!”

Phaivanh Sayalith, deputy director of a local ophthalmology department, praised the Chinese medical personnel for their exquisite skills and thoughtful services, adding that they are not only bringing light to Laotian patients, but also passing on their skills to local medical staff.

Under the Brightness Journey Program, Chinese medical teams have provided free cataract surgery for patients in 20 countries since 2014, said a staff member with NHFPC.

(Photo provided by the Chinese medical team)

(Photo provided by the Chinese medical team)

(Photo provided by the Chinese medical team)

(Photo provided by the Chinese medical team)

(Photo provided by the Chinese medical team)