Shanxi, China, 27 June 2014: A new centre that will treat patients with low vision in Shanxi province, which affects 63% of those living in the region, was opened today.
‘Seeing is Believing Phase V Low Vision Centre’ was inaugurated in Taiyuan city jointly by Shanxi Provincial Eye Hospital and Brien Holden Vision Institute, in partnership with ORBIS, and is a significant part of the Child Eye Health program ‘Seeing is Believing’ Phase V, which is funded by Standard Chartered Bank (China) Limited.
“Low vision prohibits a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks,” said Tricia Keys, Program Manager, Brien Holden Vision Institute. “In the Shanxi Province, of the 222,000 people with visual disabilities, 140,000 have low vision. When vision cannot be improved by corrective eyewear, people with low vision need help to learn how to make the most of their remaining sight.
The ‘Seeing is Believing’ Phase V program, launched in 2013, is a five-year child eye health project and is a collaboration between local hospitals, non-government organisations, schools and related government bodies, aiming to improve access to eye health for the children in four selected regions of Shanxi Province.
Mr. Jia Ya-Ding, Director General of Shanxi People’s Eye Hospital added, “I’m happy to witness the inauguration of the new low vision centre. It is in fact the first provincial low vision centre in our region. The centre is equipped with the latest technology, used by specialist staff and will provide proper treatment and vision rehabilitation.”
“I believe the centre could make the biggest positive difference to help patients with their low vision and reduce the occurrence of further vision loss or blindness.”
Officials and representatives from Shanxi People’s Government, Shanxi Health and Family Planning Commission, Shanxi Education Bureau, Shanxi Disable People’s Federation, as well as Taiyuan Branch General Manager of Standard Chartered Bank attended the opening ceremony. Five patients received professional services on the scene soon after the activity.
