Dr Nguyễn Viết Giáp recieves the award from Ava Hossain, President of Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology. — VNA/VNS Photo

BÀ RỊA-VŨNG TÀU — Dr Nguyễn Viết Giáp, director of Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Eye Hospital, has been honoured with the 2023 Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Outstanding Service in Prevention of Blindness award.

The award, the most prestigious in the field of ophthalmology in the region, was presented to the doctor along with 17 others at the 38th APAO Congress in Malaysia on February 25.

Giáp is the sixth member of the Việt Nam Ophthalmological Society (VOS) to receive the honor since the association was established more than 60 years ago.

According to VOS, with over 30 years of experience in ophthalmology, Giáp has conducted more than 50 scientific research projects and raised valuable initiatives.

In the past decade alone, his initiatives have helped more than 114,000 elderly people access free medical checkups and treatment, and 17,500 others receive surgery.

Thanks to his efforts, the rate of blindness among residents over 50 years old in the southern province of Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu has decreased from 3.31 per cent in 2007 to 1.69 per cent in 2020.

More than 200,000 local students were also provided with free checkups and treatment, and around 15,000 poor students were given glasses.

In the nomination letter to the APAO Award Committee, VOS President Professor Tôn Thị Kim Thanh described Giáp as a dedicated, highly skilled doctor with many creative ideas and great contributions to ophthalmological examination and treatment activities and blindness prevention in the community.

Along with directly providing checkups and treatment to tens of thousands of patients, Giáp has actively engaged in training activities. He has organised more than 200 training courses for over 2,500 medical staff in localities and schools, along with more than 10,000 consultation events on eye protection in the community. — VNS