Hanoi (VNA) – About 20,000 students at primary and secondary schools in the southern province of Ba Ria–Vung Tau are expected to benefit from an eye care project, which was launched by the province’s Health Department on September 20.
The project has total investment of 876 million VND (over 39,200 USD), of which 796 million VND (over 35,600 USD) was sponsored by Australia’s Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI), with the remaining 80 million VND (over 3,500 USD) contributed by the province.
It will be carried out from September 27 to November 30, aiming to promote eye care and eye treatment in schools.
The project will provide eye check-ups and present glasses to children, give eye tests training to school medical staff and organise communications activities.
Ba Ria–Vung Tau’s Ophthalmology Hospital will receive help from the BHVI to establish three public vision units in Long Dien commune, Con Dao commune and Vung Tau city.
From 2011–2015, the BHVI and Opthalmology Hospital set up 5 public units in the province. Eye tests and glasses were offered to students, including 543 children with disabilities.
On the same day, construction of 20 houses for disadvantaged children began in Linh Son Commune, Dong Hy District under a programme from the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organisation of the northern province of Thai Nguyen.
At the ceremony, Thai Nguyen’s Agriculture and Rural Development Bank gave each household 50 million VND (over 2,200 USD), and the provincial Youth Union and Red Cross gave presents to 10 disadvantaged children who performed well in school.-VNA