Under the "Children's Eyes 2024” charity programme, dozens of pediatric patients with eye problems have been provided with free eye checkups and treatment over the past two months.

Doctors from the Da Nang Eye Hospital performing eye surgery for a child patient under the "Children's Eyes 2024" programme.

Joy for child patients

In the early days of June, more than 30 children in difficult circumstances with eye problems such as ptosis, strabismus, cataracts, entropion, and eyelid tumors were provided with free eye checkups at the Da Nang Eye Hospital. Accordingly, the children had their eyes tested and were given a treatment plan for the future by doctors.

Bnuoch Thi Hong Quyen, born in 2012, hailing from Ma Cooih Commune, Dong Giang District, Quang Nam Province, has had eyelid drooping since childhood, affecting her eyesight and facial aesthetics.

Quyen said that she had to tilt her neck, raise her eyebrows or tilt her head back to look at objects above and in front of her. Therefore, she had difficulty in absorbing knowledge at school, resulting in lacking confidence and being afraid to communicate.

In the case, doctors performed an eyelid lift surgery by removing excess muscle, skin, and fat to improve her vision and increase facial aesthetics.

Similarly, Mai Thi Minh Thu, 8, Tho Quang Ward, Son Tra District, has congenital eye abnormalities. After screening, doctors performed minor surgery to eliminate the risk of affecting vision in the future.

Mr. Mai Xuan Tan, Minh Thu's father, said that his daughter's congenital eye abnormalities affected her studies. Over time, her eyesight becomes weaker and weaker, unable to see distant objects. However, because of difficult family circumstances, he and his wife couldnot afford to take their daughter to the hospital for treatment.

“About a month ago, I was introduced to the programme "Children's Eyes 2024", so I proactively contacted the Huong Lam Club in the hope of receiving active support from the club. Luckily, my child was accepted by the programme and supported with treatment until her eyes fully recovered," Mr. Tan happily said.

Continue to accept applications for children with eye problems

At the opening ceremony of the charity programme "Children's Eyes 2024" on May 31, doctor Nguyen Van Khoi, Deputy Director in charge of the Da Nang Eye Hospital, said that the programme has been carried out by the Huong Lam Club and the Da Nang Eye Hospital since 2017. Up to now, the programme has offered free eye examinations and treatment to more than 200 pediatric patients with eye diseases.

From now until late August, the programme plans to provide free examinations and treatment for 120 children with eye problems.

In order to proactively build programmes, and connect strong sponsors to support all surgery costs, since mid-April, the Huong Lam Club has issued a notice to call on poor children aged 4-14 to register for a free eye programme.

According to Mr. Pham Quoc Huy, Chairman of the Huong Lam Club, the early launching of registration will help many children with eye diseases easily grasp the opportunity to participate in the programme. Based on the registration list, the organisers will have time to research, screen and create an effective treatment regimen.

"The charity programme is expected to be over VND600 million which comes from generous donors. Currently, we continue to receive registration applications from poor families living in Da Nang and neighbouring localities. The children participating in the programme will receive 100% financial support, including food and travel expenses during the treatment process" Mr. Huy added.

Aside from the "Children's Eyes 2024" programmes, the Huong Lam Club regularly maintains community-oriented projects such as the programmes "One meal - a thousand shares", "Bringing light to the highlands" , “Warm your heart”, “Every piggy bank - every scholarship to school”, and “Lotus charity house” with a total budget of hundreds of millions of VND.

After more than 10 years of operation, the footprints of club members have spread throughout the central provinces and cities, and even Laos. All operating costs were raised by the Huong Lam Club from sponsors and from fundraising activities.

Also according to Mr. Huy, the Huong Lam Club targets to connect young people to take part in charity programmes in the near future.

Reporting by HUYNH LE - Translating by M.DUNG, P.TRA