The Hong Kong-based GX Foundation has successfully completed its six-year Cataract Blindness Elimination Program in Laos, marking a significant milestone in improving public health in Southeast Asia. The program officially concluded with a ceremony in Vientiane, celebrating the delivery of nearly 5,800 free cataract surgeries across the country.
Launched after a 2019 agreement with Laos’ Ministry of Health, the program targeted the backlog of cataract cases in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Champasak. Since its official start in September 2022, the effort brought together 10 medical teams and 73 ophthalmologists from China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Over 6,500 individuals were examined, and 5,768 cataract surgeries were performed, effectively clearing the backlog.
At the closing ceremony, Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune praised the program as a clear example of the China-Laos community’s shared future. He emphasized the program’s success in improving patients’ quality of life and supporting the nation’s public health goals.
The event was also attended by Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and chairman of the GX Foundation, as well as China’s ambassador to Laos, Fang Hong, and Lao Health Minister Bounfeng Phoummalaysith.
Leung highlighted that Laos is the first country where the GX Foundation has fully eliminated the backlog of cataract-induced blindness. He reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to ongoing medical and public health cooperation, aiming to strengthen the China-Laos partnership.
Founded in 2018, the GX Foundation delivers humanitarian aid in healthcare to countries involved in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In addition to the cataract program, the foundation has launched other public health initiatives in Laos, including a Dengue Fever Protection Project.
In May 2023, the foundation, in partnership with the Laos-China Railway Company and the China Railway Kunming Group, installed 1,000 mosquito-eradicating lamps at 24 railway stations and supplied rapid dengue test kits. This large-scale cross-border disease prevention effort is considered unique worldwide.
On May 10, the GX Foundation renewed its agreement with the Laos-China Railway Company to expand dengue prevention measures along the railway.
With successful operations in Cambodia, Senegal, and now Laos, the GX Foundation plans to extend its reach. Future projects will focus on expanding cataract surgeries, dengue fever prevention, and improving access to drinking water in more regions. The foundation also aims to grow its network of young volunteers and deepen ties with partners in mainland China.
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