Honoring the noble act of corneal donors

On January 5, in Kim Son district, the Ministry of Health, the Central Eye Hospital coordinated with the Provincial People's Committee and the Kim Son District People's Committee to organize a program to honor those who donated corneas.

Attending the event were comrades: Nguyen Thi Thanh, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the National Assembly Standing Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation Work Committee, Deputy Head of the Central Organizing Committee; Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health; Bui Thi Hoa, President of the Vietnam Red Cross Society...

Delegates from Ninh Binh province included: Tong Quang Thin, member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Do Viet Anh, member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Commission; Nguyen Hoang Ha, member of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee; leaders of a number of provincial departments, branches and sectors; leaders of Kim Son district and 259 delegates representing families with corneal donors in the area.

Honoring the noble act of corneal donors — Delegates attending the honoring ceremony.

On July 5, 2007, a resident of Kim Son district, Ninh Binh province donated his cornea after his death. This is recorded as the first cornea donation in Vietnam. After decades of promoting and mobilizing cornea donation, the Eye Bank - Central Eye Hospital has collected over 963 cornea donors from 20 provinces and cities nationwide, of which Ninh Binh province has the highest number of donors with nearly 500 people donating. Kim Son district alone has over 417 donors. In December 2023 alone, out of 4 cornea donations nationwide, Ninh Binh province had 1 case.

Speaking at the ceremony, Comrade Nguyen Thi Thanh, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the National Assembly Standing Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation Work Committee, Deputy Head of the Central Organizing Committee, shared that during her time working in Ninh Binh province, in her position as Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Committee (2006-2012), she had the opportunity to accompany the Kim Son District Red Cross Society and local authorities in mobilizing and donating corneas, especially the first donation in Con Thoi commune. Later, the noble gesture of the people of Kim Son district became a model of skillful mass mobilization honored at the national conference on summarizing the "Skillful Mass Mobilization" movement.

In recent times, Kim Son district in particular and Ninh Binh province in general have become a bright spot in the country in the cornea donation movement. From the first donation, up to now, our province has had nearly 500 people donate, the movement has spread to many other localities in the province. This is a great effort of local Party committees and authorities; organizations, unions; religious organizations, and especially the enthusiasm and responsibility of the network of collaborators in the work of propaganda and mobilization for cornea donation registration.

Those noble acts have brought light and opened up a new future for many unfortunate people suffering from eye diseases. We believe that in the coming time, with the active propaganda and mobilization work, our province will have more people registering to donate corneas.

Comrade Nguyen Thi Thanh also acknowledged and highly appreciated the Ministry of Health, the Central Eye Hospital, the People's Committee of Ninh Binh province, and the People's Committee of Kim Son district for organizing a very meaningful program to show gratitude to cornea donors. On this occasion, she presented gifts to express her feelings and gratitude to the families of cornea donors in Kim Son district before the New Year 2024.

The ceremony took place in a solemn and emotional atmosphere, expressing deep gratitude for the noble acts of the deceased as well as their relatives when they gave back to life precious gifts to help people who are blind due to corneal diseases have the opportunity to regain their sight.

On this occasion, groups and individuals with achievements in cornea donation mobilization received Certificates of Merit from the Ministry of Health; Central Eye Hospital awarded certificates of recognition for noble deeds to families with cornea donors...

Dao Hang-Minh Quang

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