Doctor has an eye for helping others in need
April 15, 2013, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
OPHTHALMOLOGIST Zhang Xingru is planning a trip to western China where he will lead a team of around 60 doctors and volunteers to give free cataract surgery.
It is the eighth charity medical trip he has organized, mostly to remote regions inhabited by ethnic minority populations.
Last year, Zhang, then president of Putuo Central Hospital, led a similar team to Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Qinghai Province. They performed 161 cataract surgeries during their 10-day stay.
This year, the team will be made up of 12 doctors from local hospitals and 45 volunteers.
Zhang, now president of Liqun Hospital in Putuo, first thought of the idea after meeting a Tibetan scholar at Peking University in 2006. The scholar told him that many people in Tibet don't have access to good medical treatment and that most cataract patients can't afford surgery.
That year, he arranged the first trip to Zuoqing Village, Dege County, Sichuan Province. Thirteen people including Zhang and other two doctors traveled in four cars with 270 pieces of medical equipment to Zuoqing, which is on a plateau 4,000 meters above the sea level.
The team built a temporary operation room since the village didn't have one. The doctors and volunteers didn't have beds and had to sleep on piled bricks.
As word spread in the village, more patients came forward seeking treatment. Many were able to see again after surgery and were very grateful.
In the following years the medical teams traveled to Tibet Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Gansu Province and other areas. The journeys were long and difficult but they didn't mind because they know they are making a difference in people's lives.
Zhang estimated that there are millions of cataract patients who need surgery, and almost half are living in poor, remote regions of China.
They either lack medical support, can't afford the cost or don't know the problem can be corrected.
The biggest challenge the team faces is ensuring patient safety, thus every thing is planned well in advance. Zhang recruits the best doctors to boost the chances of success with each surgery.
Today, the "tour of light" team has more than 200 volunteers and many eye experts in major hospitals. Every year they pick a team of about 50 people, and they plan to travel to 10 regions in 10 years. As of last year, they have completed seven.
In 2008 they performed 73 surgeries in Qinghe, Xinjiang, and in 2009 they completed 115 surgeries in Gansu. In 2010, 113 surgeries were done in Inner Mongolia and in 2011 they performed 192 surgeries in Yuexi, Sichuan.
It is the eighth charity medical trip he has organized, mostly to remote regions inhabited by ethnic minority populations.
Last year, Zhang, then president of Putuo Central Hospital, led a similar team to Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Qinghai Province. They performed 161 cataract surgeries during their 10-day stay.
This year, the team will be made up of 12 doctors from local hospitals and 45 volunteers.
Zhang, now president of Liqun Hospital in Putuo, first thought of the idea after meeting a Tibetan scholar at Peking University in 2006. The scholar told him that many people in Tibet don't have access to good medical treatment and that most cataract patients can't afford surgery.
That year, he arranged the first trip to Zuoqing Village, Dege County, Sichuan Province. Thirteen people including Zhang and other two doctors traveled in four cars with 270 pieces of medical equipment to Zuoqing, which is on a plateau 4,000 meters above the sea level.
The team built a temporary operation room since the village didn't have one. The doctors and volunteers didn't have beds and had to sleep on piled bricks.
As word spread in the village, more patients came forward seeking treatment. Many were able to see again after surgery and were very grateful.
In the following years the medical teams traveled to Tibet Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Gansu Province and other areas. The journeys were long and difficult but they didn't mind because they know they are making a difference in people's lives.
Zhang estimated that there are millions of cataract patients who need surgery, and almost half are living in poor, remote regions of China.
They either lack medical support, can't afford the cost or don't know the problem can be corrected.
The biggest challenge the team faces is ensuring patient safety, thus every thing is planned well in advance. Zhang recruits the best doctors to boost the chances of success with each surgery.
Today, the "tour of light" team has more than 200 volunteers and many eye experts in major hospitals. Every year they pick a team of about 50 people, and they plan to travel to 10 regions in 10 years. As of last year, they have completed seven.
In 2008 they performed 73 surgeries in Qinghe, Xinjiang, and in 2009 they completed 115 surgeries in Gansu. In 2010, 113 surgeries were done in Inner Mongolia and in 2011 they performed 192 surgeries in Yuexi, Sichuan.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
