"The funds were allocated to finance cataract surgery for 500 patients across Indonesia this year," said the former vice president at PKU Muhammadiyah Hospital in Yogyakarta.
After viewing a free cataract operation for a poor patient at the hospital, Kalla said the Indonesian Red Cross created the free cataract surgery program in cooperation with numerous Indonesian hospitals.
"The free cataract operation program of the PMI is meant to help ease the burden of poor cataract patients because the cost for the surgery is very high," Kalla noted.
He pointed out that the PMI, in cooperation with the PKU Muhammadiyah Hospital, has conducted free cataract operations for 50 patients in Yogyakarta. The operations were carried out in three stages: the first for 10 patients, the second for 20 patients, and the third was again for 20 patients.
Kalla noted that as a humanitarian organization, the PMI would continue to provide humanitarian assistance in any situation to all people, no matter their religion, race, ethnicity, skin color, or gender.
(Uu.O001/KR-BSR/INE)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
