By Yang Xiaolin and Lou Sijia
Medical staff of the visiting Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark conduct eye examination for local children in Douala, Cameroon on October 9, 2024.
This year's World Sight Day falls on October 10, 2024 with the theme "Children, love your eyes". On Wednesday morning local time, visiting Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark sent a team of experts to a local school in Douala, Cameroon to provide free treatment.
The experts systematically introduced eye health knowledge, guiding the children to develop good living habits and scientific eye use methods. Meanwhile, the medical staff aboard the hospital ship also provided diagnosis and treatment to visiting patients and introduced knowledge on eye protection to them.
"Due to the lack of medical resources, equipment shortage, and weak awareness of the importance of vision care, eye diseases are common among Africans and many of such diseases are preventable," introduced Ophthalmologist Gao Yu. During the service, the medical staff aboard the hospital ship carried out scientific education, consultation and examination, diagnosis and treatment, surgery, and other activities.
This operation has been a key part of the hospital ship Peace Ark in all its previous missions. Since the implementation of the Mission Harmony-2024, this operation has continued to bring light and hope to patients in the visiting countries.
9-year-old Ombouele is the youngest cataract patient admitted to the hospital ship. When he was discharged from the hospital, the boy, who had become introverted due to blindness in his right eye, smiled brightly.
In Mozambique, Santos, the only breadwinner in his family, held the hands of Chinese doctors after the cataract surgery and said, "Thank you for providing me the opportunity to continue working. You saved my family."
At the Children's Home in Douala, Cameroon, Ophthalmologist Gao Xin carefully examined Leonce, who was suffering from chronic conjunctivitis, and patiently instructed the teachers there on nursing methods. Leonce held Gao Xin's hands tightly to express her gratitude.
During the mission, the medical staff aboard the Peace Ark has diagnosed and treated more than 8,000 patients with eye diseases and performed cataract surgery on nearly 150 people.
Ophthalmologist Gao Yu aboard the visiting Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark examines eyes for a local child in Douala, Cameroon on October 9, 2024.