Free Eye Examinations and Glasses in Bacau

Residents of North-Eastern Romania can hardly afford medical advice because they have the most modest financial resources across the country. According to the National Institute of Statistics, in 2014, Northern Moldavia had a poverty rate of 35.6% and a relative risk of poverty rate of 48.7%. Most deprived area is rural, where unemployment is very high, which is why it is difficult for a citizen to pay medical services or to procure drugs. Moreover, many rural hospitals, in poor conditions, risks may not receive operating license, while in some places there is no medical or pharmacy to provide essential drugs.

Eastern region of Bacau county is one of the most vulnerable economic areas, so residents are hardly meet expenses. To assist people Value Plus Association in partnership with two other organizations provided free eye examinations and glasses, 1-4 November to over 750 people from Valea Seaca, Podu Turcului, Dofteana and the city of Bacau. They received at least one pair of glasses and some advice from specialists. Among the beneficiaries were members of the Club “60 Plus” Bacau, older retirement homes from Bacau (Alley Ghioceilor no. 2a), Bridge high school students in Turkey, citizens of the towns visited.

Asked about her impressions of the work, Lenuţa Davidsson, the Swedish Association “Vision for All”, states:

As regards the people we helped, I found that the need is very high and that many people who have vision problems that can be easily resolved, do not have this possibility. Either because they have no money or because they can go to control. Some of the elderly do not even hope that someone might look at their eyes, believing that once you’re old no longer of any use. It is painful that such thinking. I hope that people appreciated what we did. We will try to come back and to start cooperation with the local actors to help these people.

For Hjärta till Hjärta Association, represented by Luiza Timok in Romania is not the first experience in our country. The organization has provided help and support for more than 4,000 rural people affected by poverty and social exclusion.

As one of the common values of the three non-profit association is “human life” that an important factor is quality of life, the project gathers momentum, so that more people can be helped Moldavia. Value Plus Association along with the two associations will hold several meetings in the coming years and will provide relief to citizens of Moldova and disfavoring others.

Event organized by the Association Value Plus in partnership with Vision for All and Hjärta till Hjärta and Holy Trinity Church Bacau.