Doctor Hattori exams an elderly patient during his trip to Binh Phuoc province in October 2019 (Source: Hoai Sakura's Facebook)Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Over the past 17 years, Japanese doctor Tadashi Hattorihas become a friend to many visually-impaired patients in remote anddisadvantaged areas of Vietnam, particularly those in Quang Ninh, Thai Nguyen,Bac Kan, Binh Phuoc and Ca Mau.
Realising that many poor patients could not afford treatment in majorhospitals in Hanoi, the 55-year-old ophthalmologist started travelling tothese areas to conduct free surgery, bringing light to over 15,000patients.
Doctor Hattori, born in Osaka, graduated from Kyoto Prefectural University ofMedicine, one of the eight most prestigious universities in Japan.
After that, he was invited to work in many renowned hospitals inhis country.
He decided to be a doctor at the age of 15 after witnessingthe cold, irresponsible behaviour of medical staff in the hospital thatcaused his father’s death.
Hattori studied hard at university and even at work. Now heis a highly-skilled ophthalmologist who can perform 20 to 30 cataractsurgeries or 6 to 8 vitrectomies per day – a highly technical procedure.
The Japanese doctor is also among the few specialists capable ofshortening surgery time to one third through the useof endoscopy.
Hattori could have easily found a well-paid job in Japan, but he decidedto leave everything behind to concentrate on charity work. He considers themain purpose of medicine is helping others, not making money.
His life changed when he met a Vietnamese doctor at a scientificconference in 2001, who suggested he should go to Vietnam.
“He told me there were many poor patients in Vietnam who couldnot afford medical treatment. Some were in danger of going blind, even inmiddle age,” he recalled.
Half a year later, in April 2002, he decided to resign from the hospitalhe was working at to embark on his charity journey to Vietnam, a countrycompletely new to him.
On his first visit to Vietnam, he spenta month recording everything related to the situation of eyepatients who were too poor to pay for medical treatment around the country.
After returning to Japan, he called for sponsorship from medicalcompanies but was turned down because he no longer worked fora hospital.
He then submitted a proposal for assistance to the Japanesegovernment but was told they only supported non-governmental organisations.
In the end, he decided to use all the savings that he and his wifehad set aside for their retirement to buy equipment toperform free surgeries in Vietnam.
“After I told her, my wife was so angry and did not talk to me forthree days,” he recalled.
But Hattori’s kindness and big heart won her over. From beingangry, his wife gradually understood and supported him wholeheartedly.
Since the fateful meeting in 2001, his life has been divided intotwo. He spends half the year in Japan working as a freelanceophthalmologist to earn money, and then he comes back to Vietnam.
His call for financial aid was finally answered by his friendsand the community back home, and he managed to raise funds to donateto the public hospitals and private clinics where he works part time.
“Treating Japanese patients is much easier because theyimmediately consult their doctors as soon as they have health problems, so thedisease is usually in the early stages,” Hattori said.
“Vietnamese patients only resort to doctors when they arenearly blind. That's why the number of blind patients in Vietnam isunexpectedly much higher than in other places I have been to,” he added.
Hattori is now working as an executive director for the Asia - PacificPrevention of Blindness Association that he established in 2005 tosupport cataract patients.
All medical examination, treatment costs, as well as lensesand surgical instruments are paid for from his own savings andthe organisation.
Hattori’s dedication to charity work has been highly appreciatedby both the Vietnamese and Japanese governments.
He was awarded with the Medal for People’s Health by the Vietnamese governmentin 2006, the title The Person Bringing Japan to the World by the Japanesecabinet in 2012, and a certificate of merit from the Japanese foreign ministerin 2013.
In 2014, he received a friendship medal for his dedication to the prevention ofblindness in Vietnam.
But according to Doctor Hoang Van Chinh from Quang Yen Hospital in Quang Ninh provincewhere Hattori treated for nearly 1,000 patients, his most significantcontribution is his transfer of experience and knowledge to local doctors.
In every disadvantaged local hospital that he has been to, he has also calledfor financial support to purchase new specialised equipment to supplementthe facilities.
“Thanks to that, even when Hattori could not travel, localhospitals were still able to treat poor patients using high-tech equipmentand modern techniques,” he said./.
Realising that many poor patients could not afford treatment in majorhospitals in Hanoi, the 55-year-old ophthalmologist started travelling tothese areas to conduct free surgery, bringing light to over 15,000patients.
Doctor Hattori, born in Osaka, graduated from Kyoto Prefectural University ofMedicine, one of the eight most prestigious universities in Japan.
After that, he was invited to work in many renowned hospitals inhis country.
He decided to be a doctor at the age of 15 after witnessingthe cold, irresponsible behaviour of medical staff in the hospital thatcaused his father’s death.
Hattori studied hard at university and even at work. Now heis a highly-skilled ophthalmologist who can perform 20 to 30 cataractsurgeries or 6 to 8 vitrectomies per day – a highly technical procedure.
The Japanese doctor is also among the few specialists capable ofshortening surgery time to one third through the useof endoscopy.
Hattori could have easily found a well-paid job in Japan, but he decidedto leave everything behind to concentrate on charity work. He considers themain purpose of medicine is helping others, not making money.
His life changed when he met a Vietnamese doctor at a scientificconference in 2001, who suggested he should go to Vietnam.
“He told me there were many poor patients in Vietnam who couldnot afford medical treatment. Some were in danger of going blind, even inmiddle age,” he recalled.
Half a year later, in April 2002, he decided to resign from the hospitalhe was working at to embark on his charity journey to Vietnam, a countrycompletely new to him.
On his first visit to Vietnam, he spenta month recording everything related to the situation of eyepatients who were too poor to pay for medical treatment around the country.
After returning to Japan, he called for sponsorship from medicalcompanies but was turned down because he no longer worked fora hospital.
He then submitted a proposal for assistance to the Japanesegovernment but was told they only supported non-governmental organisations.
In the end, he decided to use all the savings that he and his wifehad set aside for their retirement to buy equipment toperform free surgeries in Vietnam.
“After I told her, my wife was so angry and did not talk to me forthree days,” he recalled.
But Hattori’s kindness and big heart won her over. From beingangry, his wife gradually understood and supported him wholeheartedly.
Since the fateful meeting in 2001, his life has been divided intotwo. He spends half the year in Japan working as a freelanceophthalmologist to earn money, and then he comes back to Vietnam.
His call for financial aid was finally answered by his friendsand the community back home, and he managed to raise funds to donateto the public hospitals and private clinics where he works part time.
“Treating Japanese patients is much easier because theyimmediately consult their doctors as soon as they have health problems, so thedisease is usually in the early stages,” Hattori said.
“Vietnamese patients only resort to doctors when they arenearly blind. That's why the number of blind patients in Vietnam isunexpectedly much higher than in other places I have been to,” he added.
Hattori is now working as an executive director for the Asia - PacificPrevention of Blindness Association that he established in 2005 tosupport cataract patients.
All medical examination, treatment costs, as well as lensesand surgical instruments are paid for from his own savings andthe organisation.
Hattori’s dedication to charity work has been highly appreciatedby both the Vietnamese and Japanese governments.
He was awarded with the Medal for People’s Health by the Vietnamese governmentin 2006, the title The Person Bringing Japan to the World by the Japanesecabinet in 2012, and a certificate of merit from the Japanese foreign ministerin 2013.
In 2014, he received a friendship medal for his dedication to the prevention ofblindness in Vietnam.
But according to Doctor Hoang Van Chinh from Quang Yen Hospital in Quang Ninh provincewhere Hattori treated for nearly 1,000 patients, his most significantcontribution is his transfer of experience and knowledge to local doctors.
In every disadvantaged local hospital that he has been to, he has also calledfor financial support to purchase new specialised equipment to supplementthe facilities.
“Thanks to that, even when Hattori could not travel, localhospitals were still able to treat poor patients using high-tech equipmentand modern techniques,” he said./.
VNA
