Wearing a patient name tag around her neck, Daw Myin waited inside Mawlamyine General Hospital in Mon State, Myanmar, to get surgery on her cataracts. Her eyes were slightly cloudy. Her white hair was covered with a green net.
"I'm scared," said the 78-year-old solemnly.
Cataract is the number one cause of blindness in the global population. Daw Myin has suffered from cataracts for over a year -- a condition which left her with blurred vision and impaired sight. She was barely able to see in both eyes.
Soon, the nurse came to check on her and prepared her for the operation. Interpreters also assisted in the communication between doctors and patients. Although she was afraid, the old lady managed to smile. Daw Myin was glad she would be able to see again.
Daw Myin was among over 200 patients receiving cataract surgery at the Mawlamyine General Hospital last month under the campaign "Sharing a Brighter Vision" organised by the Siam Cement Group (SCG), the Crown Property Bureau and Banphaeo Hospital. All of the surgeries were performed by the medical team from Banphaeo Hospital in Thailand's Samut Sakhon province, which operates the country's largest mobile cataract surgery unit.
At the hospital on surgery day, the patients' relatives camp outside with baskets of food, mats and blankets. Everyone -- from toddlers to adults -- waits anxiously for their elderly family members. Each cataract surgery performed by the Banphaeo team may takes less than 10 minutes, but patients need to stay put for three hours and then recuperate overnight before they can remove the bandage.
The next day, another patient named U Tin was ready with a big smile as the doctor approached him to take off his eyepatch. The 66-year-old man was brought to the hospital on a motorcycle by his son-in-law. His wife was waiting at home as she couldn't walk due to severe diabetes. Upon regaining his eyesight, he would be able to work and take care of his wife properly.
"I didn't expect I would get to have this surgery. I've been having problems with my eyes for years. I wish the doctors, nurses and their families all the best. I'll miss all of them," said U Tin. After his bandage came off, the doctor gave a final check to confirm U Tin was recovering well from the surgery. He was given a pair of sunglasses to protect his eyes.
Dr Pornthep Pongtawigorn, director of the Eye and Cataract Excellence Centre at Banphaeo Hospital, was in a good mood as he shuffled from one patient to another. His team of 16 medical staff had been working tirelessly over the course of two days to help the patients regain their much needed sight. Still, he wished he could have helped more people. More than 2,000 people in Myanmar have applied for the surgery, but -- as the equipment and staff were limited -- they were only able to select around 200 people based on the severity of each case.
"We may not be able to help everyone, but we still want to keep the waiting list as short as possible," he said.
Cataract surgery involves removing a person's natural lens and replacing it with an intraocular or implanted lens. Dr Pornthep said the same surgery in Thailand could cost anywhere from 17,000-35,000 baht, depending on the hospital.
For the team's operation in Mawlamyine, their equipment -- which is worth more than 20 million baht -- was transported across the border. No one wants to risk getting the elderly patients injured from travelling to far-fetched hospitals.
"It's better to bring ourselves closer to them. We do value their lives more than we value our equipment," said Dr Pornthep.
Banphaeo team's previous overseas outings included Cambodia and Bhutan. They have also been organising a regular mobile cataract surgery outing in Thailand for over a decade. Their extensive experience, both at local and at international levels, has groomed the team into experts. Some doctors can now operate on a patient with cataracts in about seven minutes.
"My team and I seek happiness from these surgeries. The smiles aren't from the patients alone. They come from the family members and relatives as well," said the doctor.
While many applauded the campaign's effort, some people still wonder why it's a necessity to help people in other countries when many are struggling in our own.
To this, Vunvimol Supprasert, chief operation officer of the Crown Property Bureau (CPB), said Thais are quite well-to-do, comparatively. Helping one's neighbours is also one value the CPB and His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej uphold. It also helps in strengthening the relationship between two countries.
"We're in a position that we can help, so we're doing what we can to help," said Vunvimol.
Venus Asavasitthithavorn, corporate communications director at SCG, said nationality is irrelevant when it comes to helping others.
This cataract surgery project is by no means SCG's first attempt at giving back to the Burmese community. The company has granted over 700 scholarships to Burmese students since 2012. It also contributes in the construction of Win Sein Taw Ya, the world's largest reclining Buddha which is one of the local attractions.
"Don't just focus on borders. They're just lines that separate countries. Regardless of where we are, everyone is human all the same," Venus said.
His Excellency U Ohn Myint, chief minister of Mon State -- who was also present at Mawlamyine General Hospital -- personally offered his gratitude for changing his countrymen's lives for the better.
"Everyone is happy to be able to see again. Their families are also happy as their wish is being fulfilled. We really appreciate everyone's support," said the chief minister.
Dr Pornthep Pongtawigorn removes a patient's bandage.
U Tin was happy to undergo the surgery. He can now take care of his ill wife.
Daw Mye Sein, 76, is thrilled with the outcome of her surgery.
