China-Myanmar Brightness Journey 2017 kicks off in Nay Pyi Taw

NAY PYI TAW, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- A program of China-Myanmar Brightness Journey 2017 kicked off in Nay Pyi Taw Wednesday to provide free eye surgery to more than 200 Myanmar patients suffering from cataract.

The program, jointly sponsored by the Lifeline Express Foundation of China and the Lay Kyun Shu Foundation of Myanmar and launched at the Ottara Thiri Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, was aimed at pushing the public healthcare cooperation of the two countries.

The medical team of Henan Provincial People's Hospital was mainly responsible for the surgery, cooperating with Myanmar counterparts.

The team staff said the program had been launched at Taunggyi, the capital of Shan state, in October having conducted surgery on 300 cataract patients and the present program targets about 250 such patients in Nay Pyi Taw with 100 of them to be treated at Ottara Thiri hospital and other 150 at Zabu Thiri Hospital.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Chinese Ambassador Hong Liang attributed the successful achievement of the charity move to the joint efforts, support and assistance of both sides of the two countries, underlining the significance of the efforts to realize the aspiration of better life of the people and to push the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Partnership of China and Myanmar when the two countries are jointly building Belt and Road which is the basis of improving people's livelihood in terms of education, health and poverty reduction.

Myanmar Minister of Health and Sports Dr. Myint Htway told Xinhua that Myanmar patients, who are villagers and were in difficulties and not affordable for such treatment in their villages, have expressed delight and thanks for the free treatment. The charity move contributes to the consolidation of the two countries, he said, pledging to carry on the Myanmar-China friendship for ever.

In recent years, there has been more than 10 Chinese medical and charity organizations launching free brightness journey for more than 10 times, having successfully carried out surgical operations on over 6,000 Myanmar cataract patients and bringing brightness to them again.