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An international ophthalmology conference was opened on the 19th November in Tbilisi. It was attended by the eye doctors from Lithuania, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Mr. Andria Urushadze, Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, addressed the participants together with H.E. Jonas Paslauskas, Ambassador of Lithuania to Georgia, H.E. Masayoshi Kamohara, Ambassador of Japan to Georgia, and Dr. Rasa Bagdonienė from Vilnius University Hospital Santariškiu Klinikos.    

Minister A.Urushadze pointed out that that the process of health system reform in Georgia is difficult, but successful, while the support of the international community is crucial.

"I met the President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė during her visit to Georgia and thanked her for supporting this and other Lithuanian projects. Retinopathy is not yet widely tested and treated in Georgia, although it hits the most vulnerable patients - premature born babies"- said A.Urushadze.

"Joint project of Lithuania, Japan and Georgia aims to help children in Georgia and throughout the region. At the same time I am impressed by Japan's efforts to help others, even though people of this country have suffered a major disaster, "- said ambassador of Lithuania Jonas Paslauskas.

Dr. Rasa Bagdonienė drew the attention of the participants to the fact that the 17th of November was marked as the World Prematurity Day.

"It is symbolic that on this occasion Georgian children are receiving a very important gift - the treatment possibility. Failure to cure the retinopathy in due time might result in the blindness of a baby” - said dr. R. Bagdonienė.

This project was initiated by Dr. Rasa Bagdonienė and Dr. Rasa Sirtautienė from Vilnius University Hospital Santariškiu Klinikos and financed by the government of Japan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania from the Lithuanian Development cooperation program.

Modern eye surgery equipment was provided by the Government of Japan in August, while the eye disease specialists from Lithuania are providing training for the doctors.