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China·South Asia 16
Tiny Chinese projects having huge impact
“小而美”汇成“大民生”
“小而美”汇成“大民生”
By China Daily □ 中国日报
Zhao, from the First Affiliated Hospital
Enduring difficulties such of Kunming Medical University in Yun-
as intense heat, limited equip- nan province, said that many Sri Lankans
ment and a language barrier, have eye diseases such as cataracts due to The cam-
ophthalmologist Zhao Jian- prolonged exposure to sunlight and strong paign is one of
feng and his colleagues man- ultraviolet rays, and they lack adequate China’s many small-
aged to perform free cataract medical resources for treatment. scale livelihood assis-
He explained that with the right equip-
surgeries for 118 Sri Lankan ment, the surgeries can be performed in tance projects, which are also
known as “small yet smart”
patients in two days in Co- minutes. The success rate is high, and the projects.
lombo, the Sri Lankan cap- effects are immediate. Such projects are more targeted in
ital, in May. Their work was “The most rewarding moment was when their approach and are financed by small
part of the Brightness Action we removed gauze from the patients’ eyes loans. They include a juncao (mushroom
campaign, a Chinese medical after treatment,” Zhao said. “I saw smiles grass) cultivation assistance program; a
Zeng Zhong, director of the hospital in
assistance project launched in on their faces. They gave me a thumbs-up, Kunming and leader of the medical team, project to bring satellite TV networks to
shook my hand and hugged me.”
African villages; and the Luban Workshop,
2014 aimed at restoring eye- Indrananda Abeysekara, a 68-year-old said that the surgeries not only aid cataract a vocational training program.
sight for underprivileged pa- cataract patient and president of the As- patients, but also enhance the diagnostic Sun Tianshu, an associate researcher
tients in developing countries. sociation for Sri Lanka-China Social and and treatment capabilities of local medical at the Chinese Academy of International
Cultural Cooperation, regained her eyesight institutions. Trade and Economic Cooperation, wrote in
after the surgery. She said that she is will- The hospital has participated in the aid an article that the small yet smart projects
ing to act as an ambassador to advocate for program eight times over the past eight focus on how to leverage limited funding
the Brightness Action campaign in local years, he said. to achieve better development and provide
去年 5 月，在斯里兰卡首都 communities. A key public welfare project in Yunnan’s diplomatic and economic benefits to the
科伦坡，眼科医生赵剑峰和同事们 Zhao has participated in the medical aid humanitarian aid efforts, the Brightness Ac- people in participating countries.
program six times, performing surgeries in tion campaign not only demonstrates China’s While “small” indicates the low cost and a
克服酷暑、设备有限和语言障碍等
countries such as Myanmar, Laos and Viet- willingness to help people in less-devel- small scope of the projects, “smart” refers to
困难，两天内成功为 118 名斯里 nam. oped nations but also plays a crucial role in the effects, such as improving livelihoods and
兰卡白内障患者进行了免费复明手 “I was deeply touched when a lady in fostering collaboration and the exchange of enhancing the impact on society, she wrote.
Myanmar thanked me for giving her a nor- medical expertise with neighboring nations, Sun added that the success of such pro-
术。此次活动是云南省在南亚国家
mal life again,” he said. “She said she had Zeng said. jects lies in being embraced by the people
开展的“光明行”项目，为发展中 the opportunity to get back to work and It also stands as a vivid example of peo- and recognized as an integral force in the
国家的白内障患者带去了光明。 have a social life again.” ple-to-people diplomacy, he added. development of their nations.
