A total of 9,149 disabled orphans in China have received surgery
and rehabilitation over the past year, financed by the Ministry of
Civil Affairs.
The surgery - from correcting vision to repairing other
disabilities - is expected to help children lead normal lives and
make them more attractive to prospective adoptive parents.
Since launching the Tomorrow Plan, more than 1,500 orphans have
been adopted after having surgery that many families cannot afford.
Operations make it easier for them to take part in normal social
life.
About 115 million yuan (US$18 million) have been spent to
implement the "Tomorrow Plan - Operations and Rehabilitation for
Disabled Orphans."
"Surgical operations have improved the physical conditions of
disabled orphans," said Zhang Shifeng, deputy director of the
Social Welfare and Social Affairs Department of the Civil Affairs
Ministry.
(Xinhua News Agency November 7, 2005)