This is the first training course under the framework of a US$1.3 million project funded by HKI for the 2008-2010 period to reduce the number of blind people and people with eye cataracts through primary eye care models.

HKI is an international organization, which is operating in 22 countries. Since 1990, HIK has been providing humanitarian assistance to the Vietnamese eye sector. It has already helped to train doctors to carry out cataract surgeries. From 2004 HIK has supported the five provinces to conduct cataract surgery and has offered free surgery to poor people.

With support from international organisations, the VNIO has worked with localities to provide training courses on initial eye treatment to all doctors in local hospitals. It has trained more than 15,158 medical staff in villages and hamlets and has combined primary eye care to primary healthcare programmes in more than 317 districts in 43 provinces in order to prevent eye diseases and reduce the number of blind people.