Vinh International Hospital and the journey to 'find smiles' for children

(Baonghean) - Since 2015, Vinh International Hospital has cooperated with the Provincial Children's Fund and Operation Smile to carry out the program "Smile Surgery" for children with disabilities. This meaningful journey has "restored smiles" to more than 300 children with cleft lip and cleft palate; helping them have better development opportunities and confidently integrate into the community.

Happiness "find smile again"

Nguyen Tien Sang (Nghia Lien commune, Nghia Dan) was born with a cleft lip. His family is poor, so even though he is 3 years old, his parents have never been able to take him to see a doctor or get treatment.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chung (Sang's father) shared: "Our family is poor, and we have 3 children of school age, so my wife and I do not have enough money to treat our youngest son. Fortunately, the "Smile Surgery" program has reached the village; doctors from Vinh International Hospital examined, screened and supported the child to have free surgery for his deformity; helping him have a bright smile and confidently integrate into the community."

A doctor examines a patient with cleft lip and palate before surgery. Photo: Dinh Nguyet

This “Operation Smile” program will perform surgery on more than 100 children with congenital deformities related to the jaw and face. The children are not only unlucky because of their illnesses, but each child has a different situation, but most of them come from remote mountainous districts, difficult areas of the 3 provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh; very difficult circumstances. Among them, there are children who are only a few months old, very pitiful.

Le Ngoc Dung Khoa (6.5 months old) from Huong Khe district, Ha Tinh, was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate. His parents are farmers, so the family is poor and cannot afford to treat him. When the "Operation Smile" program supported the surgery to restore a healthy smile for her son, Ms. Dang Thi Ha (Khoa's mother) could not hide her emotions: "If there were no program, social organizations, or doctors from Vinh International Hospital to help, how could my family have the conditions to treat my son. My family is truly grateful to the program for giving him this precious opportunity."

The meaningful journey to restore children's smiles that Vinh International Hospital doctors have been accompanying with the Provincial Children's Fund and Operation Smile organization has been going on for more than 2 years. Up to now, 300 unfortunate children with cleft lip and cleft palate have received free smile surgery from the program.

It is estimated that in Vietnam, 1 in 500 children are born with cleft lip, cleft palate, or facial deformities. These defects not only make the face less aesthetically pleasing, but also cause children to have many difficulties in daily activities; affecting the child's psychology and development. Therefore, these charity programs are truly meaningful, bringing bright smiles, better development opportunities, and confidence to integrate into the community.

Currently, the whole province has up to 12 thousand children with disabilities of all kinds who need support and assistance from benefactors to help them continue their dreams. Discussing the significance of the program, Mr. Vi Ngoc Quynh - Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of the province emphasized: "Currently, in Nghe An province, children have a great need for examination and surgery. They are in great need of sympathy, sharing and contributions from kind-hearted individuals, businesses, socio-political organizations and the community so that the dreams of disabled children will soon become reality. Nghe An province hopes that in the coming years, Operation Smile and Vinh International Hospital will continue to care for and assist disabled children and children in difficult circumstances throughout the province."

From 16 to 2010, doctors and nurses from Operation Smile and Vinh International Hospital performed surgery on 100 children with cleft lip and cleft palate. Photo: Dinh Nguyet

Committed to accompanying disadvantaged children

“Smile Operation” is a free surgery program for disadvantaged children with congenital cleft lip and palate deformities, performed by Operation Smile Vietnam since 1989.

Continuing the success of previous programs, in 2017, for the third time, the program "Operation Smile" was organized in Nghe An by the Provincial Children's Fund, Operation Smile, sponsor SIKA and Vinh International Hospital. From October 16 to October 20, 2017, the program examined and performed surgery for 100 disabled children in Nghe An and Ha Tinh.

At the program, experienced doctors and nurses at central hospitals examined specialists to assess the overall health of the children and directly performed surgery. Accordingly, children with cleft lip from 6 months old, weighing 8kg or more and children with cleft palate from 18 months old, weighing 10-12kg or more; not suffering from congenital diseases (heart, epilepsy, neurological diseases and not sick, feverish or infected at the time of examination), and meeting the health requirements for smile surgery.

After 3 times of organization, the Smile Surgery program coordinated by Vinh International Hospital has performed free surgery for more than 300 children with cleft lip and cleft palate. Photo: Dinh Nguyet

The “Operation Smile” program will cover all costs of examination and surgery for the children. Families will also be partially supported with accommodation and travel expenses during their stay at the hospital.

Vinh International Hospital is a companion of the "Operation Smile" program in 3 stages; contributing to bringing happiness to hundreds of unfortunate children, Dr. Pham Xuan Anh - Director of the Hospital affirmed: "We always strive to mobilize maximum facilities and human resources to successfully implement the program. With the orientation for community health, development associated with social responsibility, the Hospital is very willing to continue to coordinate with Operation Smile and other charitable organizations, continue to implement humanitarian surgery and treatment programs for disabled and unfortunate children in the coming time".

Dinh Nguyet