Pursuing the Footprints of Our Ancestors and Inheriting the Power of Light

The towering Taihang Mountains, like a barrier, have made indelible contributions to China's victory in the Anti Japanese War and the establishment of the People's Republic of China. Located in the beautiful countryside of the Taihang Mountains, it is the gentle harbor within this barrier. One by one, it is embedded on the Taihang Mountains, stretching from south to north with red blood. With tens of thousands of villagers and limited mountainous areas, it has nurtured tens of thousands of Red Army soldiers... Now, following the footsteps of our ancestors, we are paying tribute to the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and offering a bright gift to the people of the old areas who once nurtured the Chinese revolution!

June 6th is National Eye Care Day. In 2024, the ophthalmic hospital in Hebei Province celebrated its 120th anniversary, marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Amidst these three surprises, the Hebei Cishi Charity Foundation, after successfully hosting the "China Canada Bright Tour" for eight years, once again launched the "Bright Tour" large-scale ophthalmic free clinic activity. This time, they chose a more solid red route and joined a team of elderly, middle-aged, and young backbone experts and professors. With the foundation's funds as a support, they started from Qiannanyu Village in Zhushui Town, Xingtai City, headed north, passed through Xibaipo, and then to Hejiazhuang Village in the Jin Cha Ji base area, spanning across three cities in Hebei Province. The three cities of Baoding in Shijiazhuang, along the stretching Taihang Mountains, deliver the best ophthalmic diagnosis and treatment resources in Hebei Province to the homes of people in the old areas, providing protection for eye health.

The first stop of the Anti Japanese War - Qiannanyu

The headquarters of the Chinese People's Anti Japanese Military and Political University (referred to as the "Anti Japanese University") is located in the area of Zhushui Town, with Qiannanyu Village as the headquarters. During the difficult years of the Anti Japanese War, many anti Japanese heroes were nurtured here, and the spirit of the Anti Japanese War deeply influenced this land.

On the morning of May 8th, we arrived at Qiannanyu Village, where medical staff conducted visual tests, optometry, eye position and appearance examinations for villagers, answered questions related to eye diseases, provided diagnostic suggestions and health guidance, and distributed eye drops to villagers with eye diseases. We explained the health knowledge of protecting vision, caring for eyes, and preventing eye diseases, reminding villagers to develop the habit of scientific eye use, health care, and eye care. Villager Guo Junqiang expressed his gratitude to Hebei Cishi Charity Foundation and Hebei Provincial Eye Hospital.

Second stop Red Pingshan - Blooming the most beautiful smile

Pingshan is a famous revolutionary old area in China, and the revolutionary holy land of Xibaipo is located here, enjoying the reputation of "New China came from here". During the National War of Resistance Against Japan, Pingshan was the core area of the Jin Cha Ji Border Region, the first enemy base in the country. The leaders of the Jin Cha Ji Party, government, and military, as well as the Northern Branch of the Communist Party of China, were stationed in Pingshan. Dalinggou Village, located in the county, is a place in urgent need of ophthalmic free clinics. The mountain roads here are winding, and it is located in a deep mountainous area. Many young people in the village go out to work, and the village is full of left behind elderly people. It is difficult for villagers to go out of the mountains to seek medical treatment, let alone undergo ophthalmic examinations and treatments.

On the morning of May 9th, the free medical team entered Dalinggou Village. The team of free clinic experts from the ophthalmic hospital carried computer refractors, binocular handheld slit lamps, fundoscopes, mirror boxes and other ophthalmic medical equipment to conduct professional ophthalmic examinations for villagers. Simultaneously carrying eye drops and distributing them to the people. Villager Liu Shuqiang said, "We had a hard time going out in the mountains, sometimes we had to check in one day in advance to go to the ophthalmic hospital, and queuing for registration also took half a day. I didn't expect to be able to enjoy the diagnosis and treatment of the experts from the provincial ophthalmic hospital at our doorstep today. It's so exciting. As the people of the revolutionary old areas, we are grateful to the country.".

The third stop infiltrates the spirit of Norman Bethune, and Red Hejiazhuang welcomes the Guangming Free Clinic

On the morning of May 10th, the volunteer medical team members rushed to Hejiazhuang Village in Tang County, Baoding City without stopping to rest. This is the location of the headquarters of the Jin Cha Ji Military Region during the War of Resistance Against Japan. Marshal Nie Rongzhen commanded multiple battles here, including the famous Battle of Huangtu Ridge, where Abe Jixiu was killed.

And today's free clinic is the place where the great communist soldier Norman Bethune lived. The hundred year old Chinese locust trees in the courtyard are lush and sturdy, adding a cool and peaceful atmosphere to the courtyard and houses. Our free clinic is located in the house where Comrade Norman Bethune works and recuperates. After a simple ceremony introduction, the equipment is arranged in a row. Under the division of labor of six ophthalmologists, the ophthalmic free clinic officially begins. Six staff members of the foundation and volunteers from the local area are responsible for registering the villagers, maintaining order, supporting the elderly and villagers with eye diseases, and conducting examinations and diagnoses in sequence. After a tense and orderly morning of centralized diagnosis and treatment, the villagers received professional ophthalmic examinations and diagnostic recommendations, and distributed eye drops suitable for the elderly and children. Ms. Wang, a villager, said that my eyes often shed tears, and the doctor gave me three bottles of eye drops, which made me very happy.

Over a three-day period of time and space, the free clinic team conducted ophthalmic examinations for over 350 elderly and children. In the free clinic, it was found that cataract and vitreous opacity of the elderly in mountainous areas are high incidence diseases, with the incidence rate of more than half; Dry eye, conjunctivitis, and yellow shift degeneration are also common, with a incidence rate of about one fifth. Children in mountainous areas have a higher incidence of myopia due to a lack of proper eye habits. According to the specific situation of the patient, the free clinic team will distribute 700 bottles of medication to the patient for free.

Seeing the satisfied smiles of the people in the old district and listening to everyone's words of gratitude, we firmly believe that under the leadership of its founder, Chairman Chen Quanzhou, the Hebei Cishi Charity Foundation will continue to uphold the foundation's 26 year mission of "dedicating oneself to public welfare, accumulating virtue and compassion", continue to play the power of a 5A level excellent organization, and contribute to the development of charity in Hebei Province and the welfare of the people in the old district. In the later stage, we will continue to promote the "Guangming Xing" free clinic activity, sending ophthalmic free clinics to more revolutionary old areas and remote mountain villages, benefiting more villagers.