A report from the Health Ministry of Vietnam in 2001 revealed that 463,552 people were suffering from bilateral blindness and 889,276 people had blindness in one eye. Cataract is the major cause of blindness in people over 50 and usually affects both eyes (60.9%).
There are more than 120,000 cataracts operations in Vietnam each year. Unfortunately, the annual incidence is relatively higher at approximately 170,000 new people affected by cataracts.
In response to this alarming statistic, the Vietnam Vision Project (VVP) was formed in 2003. This project brings together volunteers from across Australia to restored vision for people suffering from cataracts in the rural of Vietnam by using the skills and technology from Australia.
For the past eight years, VVP has carried out more than 4,000 cataract eye operations for the poor and blind in rural areas of Central and South Vietnam.
In 2011, VVP will start to provide dental care and preliminary treatment of dental conditions for the poor people especially children in rural Vietnam by Australian dental practitioners.
The Rotary Club of Liverpool West has supported this project with Donations of $5,000.00 annually since approximately 2004 and provided assistance of $500.00 to each of the members of our Club that pay their own way to participate in the annual missions. We have had at least 4 members participating in missions each year since 2005. In 2008 we succeeded in having the project recognised as a Rotary World Community Service Project. In 2009 we sent a container of Hospital Beds, coverings and medical equipment to Vietnam to coincide with the mission.
In 2010 we initiated the Rotary Club of Liverpool West Satellite Club with the catalyst of members being members of the Vietnam Vision Project team that either worked and/or resided at Cabramatta. The Satellite Club currently has 11 members and meets at lunchtime on Tuesdays at the Bar Luck Restaurant, while the Secretary of VVP, Trudy Ho has chosen to join our meetings on Tuesday nights at the Liverpool Catholic Club, being too busy at lunchtimes for meetings.
VVP, The Satellite Club and the Rotary Club of Liverpool West have since had many joint awareness campaigns, fundraising ventures and nights of fellowship, including our Christmas party which saw attendance of over 100 people with members showcasing their musical talents on stage.
In April 2011 members Joe Cauchi, Charles Hili and President Elect Ted Mlynarz embarked on a Goodwill Trip to Vietnam with David Westbrook with both Rotary and the Satellite Club having agreed to contribute financial assistance of to enable distribution of parcels during village visits while filming and gathering information related to past patients and the affect on their situation/s following cataract operations. Online readers may go to that story here: [Read the rest of this article...]
We also provided financial assistance to host Vietnamese Eye Doctors at the District Rotary Conference in March 2011, where we also ran a display and information booth on the VVP project in the Friendship room designated for the conference.
This year we will contribute our usual $5,000.00 as well as $10,000.00 designated to be spent on a Steriliser / Autoclave Machine necessary to assist with operations on the mission.
We will also afford $500.00 assistance to each of the members that will pay their own way to participate in the trip this year taking place from Saturday 23 July to Saturday 6 Aug with members Max Bunter, Joe Cauchi and Jim Leahy attending for their 7th time. Charles Hili will attend for his 5th time. Ted Mlynarz and Bob Groat will attend for their 2nd time. Trudy Ho, who is now joining as a member of our club will also be attending. We have always had at least 4 members attending the trips with Member Frans Buskermolen attending the earlier trips. Joe, Charles and Ted then also attended the Goodwill Trip this year.
The Rotary Club of Liverpool West Satellite Club members participating are: Dr Phuoc Vo, Dr Le Duc Hong, Dr William Trinh, Dr Hien Tran and Bach Dang Vo, bringing to a total 12 Liverpool West Rotarians attending the 2011 mission.
Our Club will also have good attendance at the VVP fundraising night to be held on Friday 17 June at the Crystal Palace, 219 Canley Vale Rd Canley Heights whereby our club will sponsor the Entertainment highlighting the Talents of young Vietnamese.
Total funding from the Rotary Club of Liverpool West is then expected to be around $20,000.00.
Members from our Club have also taken on a more involved role with VVP with Member Charles Hili now Vice Chairman on the VVP Board of Directors. Our Honorary Member Max Bunter is listed on the Board as Assistant Treasurer and Member Ted Mlynarz as Assistant Secretary. Ms Trudy Ho as stated earlier is Secretary. Chairman: Dr Phuoc Vo, Logistic: Dr Le-Duc Hong, and Treasurer Dr William Trinh then round out the Board and are members of our Satellite Club. Other members of our club and Satellite Club then hold important roles as listed on the Website: www.vvp.org.au under the Tag of “About US”.
During the year we were also mentioned in the Federal Parliament by Member Chris Hayes, which online readers can visit that article here: [Read the rest of this article...]
Ted Mlynarz also put an article together on his first trip: [Read the rest of this article...]
Charles Hili tells about participating in the missions on YouTube;
Vietnam Vision Project .... My Story Charlie
Ted Mlynarz tells of his journey on YouTube: Vietnam Vision Project Ted's Journey