A Decade Of Giving Sight And Changing Lives
From humble beginnings in 2002 with the first field trip taking place in 2003, under the leadership of the founder of Vietnam Vision Projects – Australia (VVPA), Dr Phuoc VO, a group of ten volunteers ventured into Vietnam to pioneer the way for an activity which has succeeded in performing around 4400 cataract operations and changed the lives of people who otherwise would not have had access to medical or surgical treatment for blindness caused by cataract.
The people of rural Vietnam are very poor, they do not have access to basic necessities such as food, shelter or medical care. There are over 500,000 people who suffer from bilateral blindness, while over 900,000 suffer from blindness in one eye. Cataract is the major cause of blindness in people over 50 years of age and usually affects both eyes.
Since 2003, the group has visited numerous provinces and towns, mainly in southern Vietnam. However, field trips have also included Tuy Hoa of Phu Yen (Central Vietnam) and a trip to Cambodia in 2009 where 185 operations were performed.
Since 2003 the organisation has grown to over 180 registered volunteers, many of whom have undertaken the arduous field trips to Vietnam as well participating in various fundraising, administrative and logistics activities. All are important to enable VVPA to undertake its life changing work.
In 2011, dental services were introduced and will continue to be an important function during future field trips.
In 2012, planning is underway and the tenth field trip will be two week starting early August. The areas of operation will be Quang Nam and Bac Lieu Provinces as well as Saigon and it is expected that a milestone 5000th cataract operation will be performed, a very proud and outstanding record.
