October 15 2009
(Posted by CAAI News Media)
TAKEO, Cambodia : The Church-run Takeo Eye Hospital has given free treatment to patients to mark World Sight Day.
About 200 people took advantage of the opportunity on Oct. 8.
Takeo Eye Hospital, in Takeo, southern Cambodia, is run by Caritas, the Church's social service arm, and has been treating people for 12 years.
"Today our purpose is to spread awareness among people of how to take care of their own eyes," said Sun Sarin, the hospital co-director.
He said that 2.5 percent, or 350,000 people of Cambodia's 14 million people in the country, are considered blind.
The hospital's focus is on poor people and charges a nominal sum for treatment, including surgery.
"We provide service for all but our priority is poor people," said Te Serebun the hospital's project manager.
He said the hospital was committed to reducing blindness in accordance with Vision 2020, a global initiative by the World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness to eliminate preventable blindness.
Serebun said the hospital does not charge a fixed fee for its treatment but accepts whatever "donations" the patients can afford.
The hospital draws patients from around the country. One who spoke with UCA News, Pun Vann, 55, had traveled hundreds of kilometers from Battambang province to seek treatment for pterygium -- a membranous growth over the eye.
"After treatment from this hospital, my eyes are getting better," she said, adding that she had gone to many places in her province but to no avail.
Vann said she gave only 4,000 riel (US$0.85) "donation" to the hospital and said she was delighted with the care she had received.
Nget Vanny, 55, also from Battambang, has been getting treatment since July, after her eyes were injured by fire. "I pay only US$15 for treatment including an operation. Now, my eyes are better," she said. "I waiting for my second operation."
The hospital has treated 204,035 patients since opening in 1997. The hospital was built by American priest Father John Barth with support from Markynoll missioners and the German-based agency Christoffel Blindenmission.
The health ministry in Takeo province arranged the location and provides infrastructural services and technical staff. Caritas Cambodia took over the hospital's administration in 2000.
Besides the eye hospital in Takeo, Caritas runs two psychiatric hospitals in the country -- in Kandal and Siem Reap provinces. It is also heavily involved in education and agricultural and rural development, as well as other health care projects.
Courtesy : UCAN
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