UCAN REPORT: 
A Catholic-inspired project in northern China has helped thousands of poor people to have their cataracts removed.
In September 2008, Jinde Charities, a Church-run NGO based in Hebei province, launched a project in cooperation with the Hebei Disabled Persons’ Federation and several hospitals to offer free eye surgery to 3,000 poor people.
The Hong Kong-based St. Paul’s Charity Foundation, formed by the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres, donated an initial 110,000 yuan (US$16,500) for the project.
This was followed by another 50,000 yuan (US$8,000) to mark the golden jubilee of the SPC nuns’ arrival in Taiwan.
Representatives of the foundation traveled to Hebei recently to inspect the project.
Sister Marie Jacqueline Ho, the provincial superior of the St. Paul de Chartres sisters, and her collaborators visited eye patients at Xinji Fuming Eye Hospital on Oct. 29.
Fan Lanrong, who cares for two sons with physical and mental disabilities as well as her 99 year old mother-in-law, had the gauze removed from her eyes during the visit of the delegation.
The 75-year-old widow was overjoyed with the results.
“Thank you, thanks to all those who have helped me,” she told the visitors repeatedly.
Another delegation member, Sister Winnie Marie Yau lauded the skill and effort of Catholic doctor Luo Yanli, who is responsible for the implementation of the project.
“Many people in the remote area are too poor to afford cataract surgery but we would like to help them to recover their eyesight,” Sister Yau told ucanews.com.
Doctor Luo, who is director of the Fuming Group of Hospitals, told ucanews.com that it is the eye hospital’s second year of cooperation with Jinde Charities.
Last year, the hospital offered free surgery to about 1,000 people in Hengshui, one of the poorest cities in Hebei.
Previously Doctor Luo, whose father and sister are also oculists, had offered free eye surgery to poor patients from a village clinic that they opened with 400 yuan.
Lacking resources, they were unable to publicize it or expand its services, she recalled.
As a Catholic, however, Luo felt she was not doing enough “to the least of my brothers.”
Today, the clinic has grown into a group of hospitals while the Luo family continues its charitable work.
As of October 2010, Jinde has received nearly 3 million yuan in donations for the eye project, benefiting 3,000 patients.
A Catholic-inspired project in northern China has helped thousands of poor people to have their cataracts removed.
In September 2008, Jinde Charities, a Church-run NGO based in Hebei province, launched a project in cooperation with the Hebei Disabled Persons’ Federation and several hospitals to offer free eye surgery to 3,000 poor people.
The Hong Kong-based St. Paul’s Charity Foundation, formed by the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres, donated an initial 110,000 yuan (US$16,500) for the project.
This was followed by another 50,000 yuan (US$8,000) to mark the golden jubilee of the SPC nuns’ arrival in Taiwan.
Representatives of the foundation traveled to Hebei recently to inspect the project.
Sister Marie Jacqueline Ho, the provincial superior of the St. Paul de Chartres sisters, and her collaborators visited eye patients at Xinji Fuming Eye Hospital on Oct. 29.
Fan Lanrong, who cares for two sons with physical and mental disabilities as well as her 99 year old mother-in-law, had the gauze removed from her eyes during the visit of the delegation.
The 75-year-old widow was overjoyed with the results.
“Thank you, thanks to all those who have helped me,” she told the visitors repeatedly.
Another delegation member, Sister Winnie Marie Yau lauded the skill and effort of Catholic doctor Luo Yanli, who is responsible for the implementation of the project.
“Many people in the remote area are too poor to afford cataract surgery but we would like to help them to recover their eyesight,” Sister Yau told ucanews.com.
Doctor Luo, who is director of the Fuming Group of Hospitals, told ucanews.com that it is the eye hospital’s second year of cooperation with Jinde Charities.
Last year, the hospital offered free surgery to about 1,000 people in Hengshui, one of the poorest cities in Hebei.
Previously Doctor Luo, whose father and sister are also oculists, had offered free eye surgery to poor patients from a village clinic that they opened with 400 yuan.
Lacking resources, they were unable to publicize it or expand its services, she recalled.
As a Catholic, however, Luo felt she was not doing enough “to the least of my brothers.”
Today, the clinic has grown into a group of hospitals while the Luo family continues its charitable work.
As of October 2010, Jinde has received nearly 3 million yuan in donations for the eye project, benefiting 3,000 patients.
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