XN000022-1976-06-29 — Page 5

TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1976

CORNEA TRANSPLANT UNIT FOR PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL

******

THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON EAST HAS DONATED $100,000 TO THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR ESTABLISHING A CORNÉA TRANSPLANT UNIT AT PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL TO PERFORM CORNEA TRANSPLANT OPERATIONS.

THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (MEDICAL) DR. S.H. LEE, ACCEPTED THE DONATION ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT DURING THE CLUB'S REGULAR LUNCHEON MEETING THIS AFTERNOON.

THE CORNEA TRANSPLANT UNIT, WHEN IT COMES INTO OPERATION IN A FEW MONTHS, WILL BE THE FIRST SUCH UNIT SET UP IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS. THE DONATION FROM THE ROTARY CLUB WILL BE USED FOR PURCHASING SPECIAL EQUIPMENT AND INSTRUMENTS WHICH ARE REQUIRED FOR OPERATION AND ASSESSMENT OF EYE PATIENTS' CLINICAL CONDITIONS.

THIS UNIT, WITH FOUR BEDS FOR CORNEA TRANSPLANT PATIENTS, WILL ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE OPHTHALMIC SERVICE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SINCE MARCH THIS YEAR, AN ASSESSMENT CLINIC HAS BEEN OPERATING IN THE YAU MA TEI EYE CLINIC EVERY TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSESSING THE SUITABILITY OF EYE PATIENTS FOR CORNEA TRANSPLANT OPERATION.

PATIENTS WHO ARE CONSIDERED SUITABLE FOR CORNEA TRANSPLANT OPERATION WILL BE PUT ON A WAITING LIST. SO FAR, TEN PATIENTS HAVE BEEN PUT ON THE LIST.

ANY PATIENT ATTENDING AN OUT-PATIENT EYE CLINIC MAY BE REFERRED TO THE ASSESSMENT CLINIC TO DETERMINE HIS SUITABILITY FOR TRANSPLANT OPERATION.

LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO BEQUEATH THEIR EYES BEFORE THEIR DEATH ARE USED IN THE TRANSPLANTS,

TO COMMEMORATE THE ROTARY CLUB'S CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE MEDICAL PROJECT, THE NEW UNIT AT PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL WILL BE CALLED +ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON EAST KERATOPLASTY UNIT+.

15