Since the first cornea donation in Vietnam was recorded on July 5, 2007 by a resident in Kim Son district (Ninh Binh), Ninh Binh province has been the locality with the largest number of cornea donors in the country with more than 500 donors. Of which, Kim Son district has 443 people who have donated corneas.
Mr. Tran Xuan Truong - Chairman of Kim Son District People's Committee said that the story started in 2007, when the old lady Nguyen Thi Hoa in Con Thoi commune, Kim Son district became the first person in the province to voluntarily donate corneas after passing away. That noble gesture has opened a strong movement, spreading widely not only in Kim Son but also throughout Ninh Binh province.
Following the shining example of Nguyen Thi Hoa, Kim Son people have created a cornea donation movement in the whole region.
In December 2023, Mr. Mai Quang Thieu, 62 years old, (residing in Con Thoi commune, Kim Son district) quietly passed away, but his eyes were still bright in the eyes of those who stayed there. Before passing away, he registered to donate corneas with the wish "to give them away forever". His family, despite their grief, still steadfastly fulfilled his wish. After Mr. Thieu passed away, the family coordinated with the Red Cross Society of the district, the province and the Central Eye Bank to receive his cornea.
Another story that has strangled many people is the case of Mr. Nguyen Van Huyen (residing in Hamlet 3, Kim My Commune, Kim Son District). On the morning of April 10, 2019, Mr. Huyen breathed his last. To fulfill his wish, his family connected with the Ninh Binh Provincial Red Cross Society to complete the necessary procedures before donating corneas. At exactly 11:15 a.m. the same day, the Ninh Binh Red Cross Society coordinated with the Central Eye Hospital Eye Bank to receive Mr. Huyen's cornea.
These are only 2 out of 443 cases in Kim Son district that have donated corneas after death to bring light to those who remain.
"Currently, in Kim Son district, there are 12,223 people registered to donate corneas, of which 443 people have donated corneas after passing away" - Chairman of Kim Son District People's Committee Tran Xuan Truong shared.
