1000's of blind children in Bangladesh can be cured

Ten thousand blind children in Bangladesh can be cured, charity says
at 9:06 on June 5, 2005, EST.

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) - Thousands of blind children in Bangladesh could regain their sight through surgery, officials from an international charity group said Sunday.

U.K.-based Sight Savers International has launched a program with United States-based charity ORBIS International to restore sight to at least 12,000 Bangladeshi children through cataract surgery by 2008, said Enamul Kabir, Sight Savers' representative in Bangladesh.

British actress Joanna Lumley, best known for her role on the TV show "Absolutely Fabulous," has joined efforts to raise the US$3.62 million (euro2.96 million) estimated to be needed for the project.

"It's an extraordinary plan to make them (children) happy," Lumley said at a news conference in Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka.

She was on a seven-day visit to this impoverished country of 140 million people to observe Sight Savers' work.

"It will be my humble job as an actress to help raise the funds after going back to the U.K.," she said.