Foreign NGOs support improving health for Vietnamese people

Healthcare is one of the areas that receives the most attention and aid from non-governmental organizations operating in Vietnam. Through free medical examinations, treatments, and surgeries; medical equipment aid activities, medical training, etc., foreign non-governmental organizations have actively contributed to the community, bringing healthy living opportunities to many Vietnamese people.

Foreign NGO aid contributes to supporting livelihoods for disadvantaged groups

Localities need to innovate their perspective in mobilizing and providing foreign non-governmental aid.

Relight the Light

In 1992, Australian professor and ophthalmologist Fred Hollows visited and learned about the treatment of cataracts in Vietnam. Realizing that Vietnamese doctors lacked equipment and had not yet had access to modern cataract surgery techniques, he promised to return after 3 months to open a training course and improve the skills of Vietnamese doctors.

In June 1992, doctors discovered a cancerous tumor in his body that needed urgent surgery. Just 2 months after the surgery, despite still being weak, he gathered a group of leading surgeons and ophthalmologists from Australia and Nepal to come to Vietnam, install equipment, improve the operating room at the Central Eye Hospital in Hanoi; and guide and train 10 Vietnamese doctors.

Doctors from Ha Giang Provincial Eye Hospital examine the eyes of local residents during a survey in Ha Giang on the trachoma situation in the community. (Photo: Fred Hollows Foundation)

The Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF) was founded by Dr. Fred Hollows and his wife, Gabrielle Hollows, shortly before Fred passed away (in 1993) to continue to fulfill his wishes in preventing blindness, training doctors and supporting eye care for the people of Vietnam. FHF has carried out many cooperation projects with ministries, departments, sectors, universities, and medical facilities to train doctors and technicians; provide financial and equipment sponsorship for eye examination and treatment facilities at district level and in disadvantaged areas; raise public awareness of eye care; conduct screening, detection and treatment, and perform free surgery for many patients with eye diseases... Since 1992, FHF has supported the training of more than 1,000 eye surgeons, provided medical equipment, and supported the performance of more than 100,000 cataract surgeries.

Professor Ton Thi Kim Thanh, former Director of the Central Eye Hospital, a student of Dr. Fred Hollows, called the foundation's training program "a great success, playing an important role in preventing blindness in Vietnam. Thanks to the program, hundreds of thousands of blind people in Vietnam have had their sight restored, as promised by Mr. Fred before he passed away."

Bring a smile

Every year, Vietnam has more than 5,000 children born with craniofacial malformations, causing facial deformities, affecting the child's function, daily life, and psychology. Meanwhile, surgery and treatment of craniofacial malformations remains a significant challenge for Vietnamese surgeons.

According to the former Director of the 108 Military Central Hospital, Lieutenant General Mai Hong Bang, to treat patients with craniofacial disabilities, a team of specialized doctors from many specialties such as: Plastic surgery - maxillofacial, neurosurgery, ENT, dentistry, ophthalmology, rehabilitation... along with many modern medical equipment. Therefore, the cost of a craniofacial surgery is very high, making it impossible for many patients in difficult circumstances to afford.

Dr. Christopher Forrest, Toronto Children's Hospital (Canada) and a team of doctors at the Center for Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery, 108 Military Central Hospital examined a child patient, November 2019 (Photo: FTW).

Since 2016, 108 Military Central Hospital has been connected with Facing the World (UK). With the sponsorship of Facing the World, the Center for Craniofacial Surgery and Plastic Surgery, 108 Military Central Hospital was established in 2018. Over the years, the Center has performed surgery for more than 2,000 patients, supporting many disadvantaged children to overcome their inferiority complex and bring smiles. With two remote medical examination and treatment platforms and 26 doctors trained under the Facing the World program, it is expected that after 8 years of operation, the Center will connect and treat 60% of children with congenital craniofacial defects in Vietnam.

A charity founded in 2002 in the UK to help children with facial deformities in developing countries, Facing the World initially supported Vietnamese children with complex facial deformities by bringing them to the UK for treatment, at a cost of up to £0.5-1 million per child. Since 2008, FTW has begun sending foreign medical teams to Vietnam, collaborating with Vietnamese doctors to perform surgeries.

The organization also supports sending Vietnamese doctors abroad for training. To date, more than 100 doctors from FTW's partner hospitals in Vietnam have been sent to hospitals in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia for training for 2-6 weeks, with an average cost of about £11,000/2 weeks of training. FTW also organizes professional seminars; develops remote examination, consultation, and treatment methods;... The organization has sponsored remote medical examination and treatment equipment and technology with a total value of £2.4 million for surgical centers in Vietnam.

The child patient was operated on by leading cardiovascular experts and doctors at Vinh Duc General Hospital. Photo: HD

Continue writing the dream

Vo Thi Kim Tien (born in 2000, from Quang Ngai) had a congenital heart disease, but her family did not know because she grew up healthy. It was not until 7th grade, when the Giving It Back To Kids (GIBTK) organization came to Tien's hometown to organize medical examinations for children in difficult circumstances, that Tien and her family learned that she had a serious heart disease.

Thanks to the financial support of the organization, Tien was able to have surgery. She stayed at Da Nang Hospital for a month for examination and health monitoring before the surgery. Before the day Tien went into surgery, her father signed the consent form for the surgery with trembling hands, because according to the doctor, the chance of success was only about 30%. However, in front of Tien, her parents still appeared optimistic and encouraged their daughter. GIBTK staff were always by Tien's side and her family during her heart surgery and recovery. The surgery was successful. More than a year later, she was able to comfortably play with friends and participate in sports activities.

After the surgery, Tien grew up healthy. She studied hard, had the opportunity to study abroad in Japan, and was invited to work by Japanese companies.

Vo Thi Kim Tien had heart surgery since 7th grade. Photo: NVCC

Tien is one of more than 1,500 disadvantaged children in Vietnam who have received heart surgery support from GIBTK. Operating in Vietnam since 2022, the American organization GIBTK has contributed to changing the lives of many orphans, children in especially difficult circumstances, the elderly and people with disabilities in Vietnam. In addition to supporting heart surgery, GIBTK's medical program also supports more than 700 orthopedic surgeries, 98 eye surgeries, and more than 2,000 poor patients who have received medical equipment and supplies, etc. In addition, GIBTK organizes many educational programs, all of which are of great significance in helping poor students who do not have the conditions to continue their studies.

Binh Dinh effectively uses aid from foreign non-governmental organizations

As of November 30, 2023, Binh Dinh province has 27 projects and non-projects supported by foreign organizations and individuals being implemented with a total disbursement value of nearly 1.65 million USD.

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Imprints of non-governmental organizations in Thai Nguyen

In Thai Nguyen, there are currently 30 foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with valid operating licenses and new areas of operation; a total of 43 programs and projects focusing on areas such as education development, healthcare, public health, rural development, and climate change response. In 2023, the disbursement value of NGOs reached approximately 1.49 million USD, an increase of 59.6% over the previous year.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/to-chuc-phi-chinh-phu-nuoc-ngoai-ho-tro-nang-cao-suc-khoe-cho-nguoi-viet-197115.html