2023-02-28

GX Foundation Launches the first Cataract Blindness Elimination Project in Africa on World NGO Day 2023

6,000 Free Cataract Surgery to be performed in Djibouti in collaboration with Shanxi Medical Team
GX Foundation (The Foundation) officially launched the Cataract Blindness Elimination Project in Djibouti city, capital of Djibouti, Africa yesterday (27th February, 2023). Attending by Mr. Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, Prime Minister of Djibouti, Mr. Leung Chun-ying, Vice Chairman of The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Chairman of GX Foundation, Dr. Ahmed Robleh Abdilleh, Minsiter of Health of Djibouti and Mr. Hu Bin, Chinese Ambassador to Djibouti, the launch ceremony concluded with great success. In the ceremony, the guest of honours removed the gauze for cataract patients who recently underwent surgery, sharing with them the joys of regaining vision on the World NGO Day 2023.
Concurrently, the Foundation renewed the Memorandum of Understanding for the upcoming 3 years with the Ministry of Health of Djibouti, extending the partnership to 2026, aiming to eliminate the 6000 local backlogged cases of cataract in Djibouti.
Mr. Leung Chun-ying, Vice Chairman of CPPCC and Chairman of GX Foundation said, “Being one of first non-governmental organizations to launch its overseas projects after the pandemic, the Foundation hopes to demonstrate the contribution of Chinese NGO in international humanitarian assistance and solidify the cultural exchanges between the Chinese and Djiboutian to reach new heights through launching the Cataract Blindness Elimination Project on the World NGO Day 2023.
With long history of providing medical assistance to Djibouti, Shanxi Province has sent the 21st medical teams to Djibouti since 1986. Their professional skills and selfless dedication have been widely recognised by the local people, and they are a model of non-governmental diplomacy between China and Djibouti. The first batch of medical teams for the Cataract Blindness Elimination Project came from Shanxi Eye Hospital, consisting of 7 ophthalmologists and nurses. They will be stationed at the 2 well-equipped Mobile Eye Treatment Centers (METCs) in Peltier General Hospital, providing free cataract surgery for patients, with the hope of eliminating all local cataract backlogs. Liu Jian-ting, leader of the Shanxi medical team supporting the project, said , “The weather and living conditions in Djibouti lead to early-onset cataracts. Many patients are diagnosed with cataract around the age of 40 but there is a lack of well-trained ophthalmologists to carry out cataract surgery in Djibouti. I am very happy that I can help cataract patients in Djibouti to regain their sight.