A TOTAL of 78 individuals from the B40 group benefitted from the cataract operations at Penang Hospital over the weekend.
Organised by the Opthalmology Department at Penang Hospital, the three-day Cataract Surgery Carnival 2024, held from Aug 2 until yesterday (Aug 4), was a resounding success. This achievement was made possible through the collaboration between the Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society Malaysia and the Masmeyer Foundation.
Speaking to reporters after conducting the cataract operations, Opthalmology Department head Dr Ang Ee Ling expressed gratitude to the Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society Malaysia and the Masmeyer Foundation for their unwavering support of the programme.
“This initiative has been carried out since 2016, and the needy individuals were chosen from the nursing and old folks’ homes.
“We are glad that the two charitable bodies stepped forward to assist us. Their generosity must be lauded.
“We had allocated about 120 lenses for the cataract operations, but some of the operations had to be postponed due to some health issues. Hence, we were able to conduct 78 operations over the three-day carnival,” said Dr Ang during the closing ceremony of the carnival at Penang Hospital.
Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society Penang commissioner Datuk Khoo Boo Leong said the cataract surgery would make a huge difference to the vision of the patients.
“It greatly improved their quality of life, especially for those from the B40 group and senior citizens in various nursing homes.
“We send our blessings for a speedy recovery to those patients receiving their surgery,” he said.
Also present during the closing ceremony of the carnival were Penang Hospital director Dr Goh Hin Kwang and Masmeyer Foundation managing director Datuk BK Choo.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat