Taunton consultant volunteers in Vietnam

7:10am Monday 15th September 2008

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A TAUNTON consultant has taken part in a project to train Vietnamese eye surgeons.

Ophthalmologist Mr Kim Hakin from Musgrove Park Hospital, travelled to Vietnam to devote a week to training local eye surgeons in modern eye care.

Mr Hakin who travelled to Vietnam at his own expense, said: “This teaching experience was very gratifying; it is pretty amazing to realise that our team’s efforts will change the future of eye care for an entire country.

I feel honoured to have been selected for this remarkable international faculty, and I’m humbled and grateful for this opportunity to make such a difference in people’s lives. I’ve already offered to return in 2010.”

Kim Hakin’s lectures were simultaneously translated into Vietnamese and broadcast through the conference hall.

He also gave one-on-one individualised surgical instruction to the Vietnamese eye surgeons.

Mr Hakin was one of a team of 30 leading eye specialists from four countries who took part.

Operating under powerful microscopes on pigs’ eyes, the team guided trainees through the latest techniques and instrumentation.

The week was sponsored by the Hawaiian Eye Foundation, which has conducted humanitarian eye care missions in the Pacific for 25 years.