"I hope the corporate world`s assistance for the eradication of cataract can be stepped up," the vice president said when witnessing the operation on the 600th patient in a free cataract treatment program at Ciptomangunkusumo General Hospital.
Vice President Boediono on the occasion appreciated PT Sido Muncul which in 2011 funded the operation of 6,000 cataract patients in cooperation with the Indonesian Ophthalmologists Association (Perdami), several eye hospitals and clinics across the country.
The vice president also expressed his full support for the cataract eradication movement initiated by entrepreneurs.
"I fully support and appreciate this cataract eradication movement," the vice president said, adding that the government would also support the initiative.
He said the government would pay serious attention to meeting the need of ophthalmologists in various regions across the country by creating scholarship programs for eye specialists and procuring medical equipment for cataract operations in the regions.
Meanwhile, Perdami chairperson Nila F. Moeloek said 240,000 Indonesians suffered from cataract every year while in 2011 160,000 of then underwent a cataract operation.
She said in the future 2 million Indonesians were likely to suffer from cataract and if it happened, it would be the highest figure in Southeast Asia.
Therefore Perdami would continue to conduct cataract eradication campaigns by encouraging cataract patients not to be afraid of cataract surgery
(Uu.O001/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
