Lifeline Express China
Encyclopedia
Lifeline Express is a rainbow-coloured hospital eye-train that provides free cataract
operations to patients in China.
The development of Lifeline Express is supported by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Railways
and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office
. It is funded by Lifeline Express Hong Kong Foundation,Lifeline Express China Foundation and the general public.
created in India by the Impact India Foundation. In 1996, Impact India came to Hong Kong to raise funds for this work. Some of the individuals they approached for support quickly saw the potential for mounting a similar operation on China’s mainland. A group of Hong Kong philanthropists visited India to see the Lifeline Express in action, discussed the idea with China’s Ministry of Public Health. Celebrating Hong Kong’s transfer of sovereignty to China, Nellie Fong Wong Kut-Man
, the Founding Chairman of Lifeline Express Hong Kong Foundation, together with twenty other Founding Trustees raised the capital for the first eye-train. On 1 July 1997, the first eye-train started its first journey of vision.
In 2002, the Chinese Foundation for Lifeline Express was established and widened the network of sponsorship.
The first eye-train was launched in 1997, the second in 1999, the third in 2002 and the fourth in 2009.
There were 12 team members, including doctors, nurses, engineering technician and administrative staff recruited from the mainland hospitals, staying on each eye-train running the daily operations. Voluntary ophthalmologists from Hong Kong
and overseas spend their vacations on the train to perform surgeries.
There are 4 compartments on the eye-train. Each train consists of medical equipment and eye-care technology. Other facilities are also available on the train:
.
In 2006, Lifeline Express started a new project in China, building solar hot water system for the rural schools to supply hot water for the village students.
Cataract
A cataract is a clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelope, varying in degree from slight to complete opacity and obstructing the passage of light...
operations to patients in China.
The development of Lifeline Express is supported by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Railways
Ministry of Railways
Ministry of Railways may refer to:* Ministry of Railways * Ministry of Railways * Ministry of Railways * Ministry of Railways * Ministry of Railways...
and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office
Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office
Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office is an administrative agency of the State Council of the People's Republic of China responsible for promoting cooperation and coordination of political, economic and cultural ties between mainland China and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao...
. It is funded by Lifeline Express Hong Kong Foundation,Lifeline Express China Foundation and the general public.
Mission
Lifeline Express restores sights to the cataract patients in rural China. The Ministry of Health estimated that 1 million cataract patients are remain uncured, with an increase of 0.5 million new cases every year. People suffering from cataract grew younger in remote areas due to unsatisfactory hygiene condition and demanding physical laboring; more and more are diagnosed as genetically inherited. Lifeline Express brings back lights to the patients, allowing the people to pick up their work in the fields again and help the poverty-stricken areas to retrieve work force, thus improve their livelihood. While working on the eye-train, eye-doctors are trained to facilitate the future development.History
This organisation has replicated the Lifeline ExpressLifeline Express
The Lifeline Express or Jeevan Rekha Express is a mobile hospital train run by the Impact India Foundation. It was developed in collaboration with the Indian Railways and Health Ministry and has been funded by Impact UK, international charitable sources, Indian corporate houses and individuals...
created in India by the Impact India Foundation. In 1996, Impact India came to Hong Kong to raise funds for this work. Some of the individuals they approached for support quickly saw the potential for mounting a similar operation on China’s mainland. A group of Hong Kong philanthropists visited India to see the Lifeline Express in action, discussed the idea with China’s Ministry of Public Health. Celebrating Hong Kong’s transfer of sovereignty to China, Nellie Fong Wong Kut-Man
Nellie Fong Wong Kut-Man
Nellie Fong Wong Kut-man, GBS, JP is a Hong Kong politician and chartered accountant.-Early life and education:She was born and raised in Hong Kong and studied at the Belilios Public School before leaving Hong Kong for the United Kingdom in 1968 to study accountancy...
, the Founding Chairman of Lifeline Express Hong Kong Foundation, together with twenty other Founding Trustees raised the capital for the first eye-train. On 1 July 1997, the first eye-train started its first journey of vision.
In 2002, the Chinese Foundation for Lifeline Express was established and widened the network of sponsorship.
Eye-train
Over the past decade, the eye-train s of Lifeline Express visited over 27 provinces, cities and autonomous regions and cured more than 100,000 cataract patients in the remote and poverty-stricken areas of China. Lifeline Express' hospital trains together visit twelve locations and perform over 11,000 surgeries every year. Train stays at each location for 3 months, performing 25 free eye operations every day for a total of about 1000 patients having their eyesight restored at each stop.The first eye-train was launched in 1997, the second in 1999, the third in 2002 and the fourth in 2009.
There were 12 team members, including doctors, nurses, engineering technician and administrative staff recruited from the mainland hospitals, staying on each eye-train running the daily operations. Voluntary ophthalmologists from Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and overseas spend their vacations on the train to perform surgeries.
There are 4 compartments on the eye-train. Each train consists of medical equipment and eye-care technology. Other facilities are also available on the train:
- Consultation clinic
- Sanitization room
- 2 Operating theatres
- Recovery room
- Multi-function conference room
- Living quarters for medical staff
Microscopic Eye Surgery Training Centre
Lifeline Express has set up 12 Microscopic Eye Surgery Centres to train eye-doctors in China. The Centres are equipped with the latest surgical equipments and eye-care technology. Its ultimate goal is to set up Centres in every province the eye-train visited, namely the less developed provinces. Doctors can received training and sit for the global exam host by the International Council of OphthalmologyInternational Council of Ophthalmology
- International Council of Ophthalmology :The International Council of Ophthalmology represents and serves professional associations of ophthalmologists throughout the world. The Board of Trustees of the International Council of Ophthalmology is the executive body and operational arm of the ICO.-...
.
Solar Hot Water System
In the past, many living in the remote area of China could only bath in ponds during summers, and often not to bath in the cold water during fierce winters. Hygiene condition deteriorated and diseases raged.In 2006, Lifeline Express started a new project in China, building solar hot water system for the rural schools to supply hot water for the village students.
Awards
| Year | Organization | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | State Council National Award-Issuing Ceremony on Ethnic Unity and Progress | National Award on Enhancing Ethnic Unity and Progress |
| 2005 | China Charity Federation, Ministry of Civil Affairs of PRC | China Charity Award |
| 2006 | The State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development | China Poverty Eradication Award |
| 2008 | China Charity Federation, Ministry of Civil Affairs of PRC | China Charity Award |