Chow Tai Fook, Jing Yuan, Eye Care Charitable Foundation Offer Free Cataract Surgery

It is widely recognized that the ophthalmology departments of public hospitals face a significant patient influx. With the aging population, the waiting list for cataract surgery is anticipated to become increasingly severe. With the generous donation of HK$4 million from the Chow Tai Fook Medical Foundation, the Jing Yuan Charity Foundation,and philanthropist Mrs May Tam Mak Mei Yin, the Eye Care Charitable Foundation (ECCF) has launched the “ECCF Charitable Cataract Surgery Program”, aimed at providing cataract surgery for approximately 400 eyes. A press conference for this program was held today, with artiste Nancy Sit Ka Yin attending voluntarily. She shared her experiences with cataract treatment and emphasized the importance of early intervention.

Chow Tai Fook and Jing Yuan partner with Eye Care Charitable Foundation to provide free treatment for approximately 400 eyes. The ECCF Charitable Cataract Surgery Program kicked off today .

When one person regains sight, the entire family is relieved.

The issue of lengthy waiting times for cataract treatment in Hong Kong is significant.According to the latest statistics from the Hospital Authority, as of December 2024, there were 68,991 patients awaiting cataract surgery in ophthalmology departments, with waiting times often stretching into years. In response to this situation, the Government announced in its Policy Address that the number of cataract surgeries conducted in the public healthcare sector will be increased by at least 20%.

Chow Tai Fook and Jing Yuan partner with Eye Care Charitable Foundation to provide free treatment for approximately 400 eyes. The ECCF Charitable Cataract Surgery Program kicked off today .

To expedite the resolution of this issue and assist more patients suffering from cataracts, the Eye Care Charitable Foundation has launched the “ECCF Charitable Cataract Surgery Program”, aimed at providing free cataract surgery for low-income individuals. The surgeries will be performed by specialist ophthalmologists. This program has received generous donations totalling HK$4 million from the Chow Tai Fook Medical Foundation, the Jing Yuan Charity Foundation, and philanthropist Mrs. May Tam Mak Mei Yin, and it is expected to benefit approximately 400 eyes.

Chow Tai Fook and Jing Yuan partner with Eye Care Charitable Foundation to provide free treatment for approximately 400 eyes.

Dr. Chow Pak Chin, BBS, JP, Founding President of the Eye Care Charitable Foundation,stated, 'We believe that when one person's sight is regained, it brings relief to the entire family. However, addressing social issues is not solely the government's responsibility; it also requires the collaborative efforts of various groups and individuals within the community. We hope this funding scheme will create a ripple effect, drawing attention to our project and garnering community support.”

Dr. Chow Pak Chin, BBS, JP (left), Founding President of the Eye Care Charitable Foundation.

Mr. Cheng Kar-Shing, Chairman of the Chow Tai Fook Medical Foundation and Project Management Committee Chairman of the Jing Yuan Charity Foundation, stated, 'We have consistently been concerned about the medical needs of the underprivileged in society. This project takes on the responsibility of serving the community and is dedicated to promoting the message of “preventing blindness, curing blindness, and eliminating blindness” across various segments of the community. Our goal is to provide the public with accurate and professional eye care information, helping to dispel misconceptions and fears surrounding eye surgery.”

Mr. Cheng Kar-Shing, Chairman of the Chow Tai Fook Medical Foundation and Project Management Committee Chairm.

Mr. Cheng Kar-Shing, Chairman of the Chow Tai Fook Medical Foundation and Project Management Committee Chairm.

Schedule regular eye examination, don't postpone cataract treatment

Artiste Nancy Sit Ka Yin, who previously suffered from cataracts, volunteered to attend the event in support of this charitable initiative. During the event, Nancy shared her journey of treating cataracts, noting that after undergoing surgery for an eye condition in her earlier years, she developed the habit of having regular eye examinations. She expressed her gratitude for being able to detect the cataract issue early and receive treatment. She urged elderly individuals not to be afraid to seek medical assistance and to avoid delaying cataract treatment simply because it is not life-threatening, as this could potentially lead to further complications.

Artiste Nancy Sit Ka Yin.

CFS to follow up certain batches of powdered infant and young children formula with possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (January 10) said that, it took initiative to meet with Nestlé Hong Kong again today, and confirmed the company's today announcement of an additional batch of powdered infant and young children formula suspected to have possibly used the raw material concerned. Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall. The CFS has collected samples of powdered infant and young children formula from the market for Bacillus cereus testing, the test results so far were satisfactory. The Environmental and Ecology Bureau is also closely monitoring the supply situation of other formula milk powder and maintaining communication with other major suppliers. It is noted that there is sufficient formula milk powder to meet the demand.

The spokesman said, the CFS has been actively following up on Nestlé company's voluntary and precautionary recalls of certain batches of its powdered infant and young children formula in certain areas in Europe due to possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus in the individual raw material. According to the latest information from Nestlé Hong Kong today, an additional batch of its powdered infant and young children formula imported into Hong Kong might have used the raw material concerned. The CFS had earlier enhanced surveillance in the market and collected a sample from the above batch for testing of Bacillus cereus. The test result of the sample was satisfactory. Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall.

Product details are as follows:

Product name (Net weight): NAN PRO 1 2 HMO (800g)

Batch number: 51670742F2

Best-before date: June 16, 2027

Place of Origin: Germany

"The CFS met Nestlé Hong Kong again today, urging them to properly handle the product recall issue and respond to public enquiries, in order to safeguard consumers' legitimate rights and interests. In addition, the CFS and Nestlé Hong Kong have jointly followed up, six suspected affected batches of infant and young children formula products that had not entered the market were marked and sealed. An additional 15 batches are currently en route to Hong Kong and will also be marked and sealed upon arrival. The CFS will continue to closely monitor the recall matters and remain fully committed to ensuring food safety, " the spokesman said.

Nestlé Hong Kong has initiated a recall of the affected batches of the products concerned. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may contact the company through the following channels:

Consumer services hotline: 2599 8874 / 2797 6031/ 2179 8136 (Monday to Sunday, 9am to 9pm)

Email: consumerservices@hk.nestle.com

WhatsApp: 5283 4139 (NESTLÉ® NAN®) / 2599 8871 (Wyeth® Nutrition)

Online form: forms.office.com/e/BhqMhWfsUG?origin=lprLink

Consumers may choose to bring along the products (brand new or opened) for refund at place of purchase, or at exclusive service counters of Nestlé Nutrition Services from January 13 (Tuesday) onwards, to settle the recall and refund of the batches of the products concerned. Details of the exclusive service counters are as follows:

Kowloon Services Counter

Address: G/F, Park Hovan Commercial Building, 18 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (MTR Jordon Station Exit D)

Contact number: 3996 8196

Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm; Sunday, 1pm to 5.30pm (except public holidays)

Hong Kong Services Counter

Address: 1/F, Ka Nin Wah Commercial Building, 423-425 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong (MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit B)

Contact number: 3996 8197

Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm (except Sundays and public holidays)

The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted earlier that certain batches of Nestlé powdered infant formula were being voluntarily recalled in Europe due to possible contamination with Bacillus cereus. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS has immediately initiated follow up actions, published food incident posts to inform the public and the trade about the issue, and has been actively following up on the incident and enhanced surveillance.

Over the past three days (as of 4pm on January 9), the FEHD received a total of 18 food complaints and enquiries suspected to be related to the infant and young children formula products, including one anonymous complaint without contact information. The CFS and the Environmental Hygiene Branch have promptly followed up on all cases, including contacting the parties concerned to obtain details and collecting samples for testing. In addition, the CFS has referred the cases to the health department for follow-up. At present, no food poisoning cases related to the formula have been recorded.

Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.

The spokesman urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batches of the products, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the products concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately.

"The CFS continues to closely monitor the developments of the situation, follow up and take appropriate action," the spokesman said.

Source: AI-found images