Since 2013, a total of over 400 poor children with cleft lips and palates from Da Nang and elsewhere in the central region and Highlands have enjoyed the 1^st stage of a free surgery programme at the city’s Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital.

A total of over 400 poor children with cleft lips and palates have enjoyed free surgery

These operations have been jointly performed by groups of surgeons from the Da Nang Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital, and the Ho Chi Minh City-based Children's Hospital No 1.

The operations have been funded by Smile Train - the world's largest cleft charity which empowers local medical professionals to provide free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children around the world.

This US non-governmental organisation has also covered the full cost of medical examinations, surgery, medicines and hospital beds for the child patients.

In recent days, the Ophthalmology, Ear, Nose and Throat and Odonto-Maxillo-Facial Department at the Da Nang Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital have been enlivened with laughs and jokes by child patients and their parents.

These kids have already been undergone free-of-charge life-saving reconstructive cleft surgery.

Thanks to the surgery, these poor children suffering from cleft lips or cleft palates now have beautiful smiles, better lives, and gain confidence in their verbal abilities in their own language.

Ms Le Thi Hoan from Quang Tri Province’s Hai Lang District was paralysed with fear and anxiety as her new-born baby has no upper lip.  Given this defect, the boy found it very hard to eat and speak properly.

At that time, Hoan and her families felt their world was falling apart! However, Hoan did her utmost to help her child in any way she could.

Fortunately, the Da Nang Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital helped to end Thu’s needless suffering by assisting her disadvantaged son to undergo free cleft surgery for 3 occasion free-of-charge. 

The poor woman really poured out emotions and drew upon her faith as the surgery was conducted very successfully. It was like seeing the light at the end of a long tunnel! Her son is now able to talk and eat normally.

Facing the same unexpected blow as Hoan, Nguyen Thi Sen from Quang Nam Province’s Dai Loc District could not hide her happiness after her niece well underwent a free-of-charge, safe, effective and timely surgery. 

Thanks to such a free-of-charge operation, Sen’s niece has been offered a chance to live a normal life that is healthier and more fulfilling.

The programme was initially initiated by the Head of the Odonto-Maxillo-Facial Department at the Ho Chi Minh City-based Children's Hospital No 1, cum Chairman of the Da Nang Fellow Countrymen’s Association in Ho Chi Minh City, Dr Nguyen Van Dau. Over the past year, he has enthusiastically appealed for public donations.

Children with cleft lips and palates in Da Nang and its neighbouring localities now can access surgery right at the Da Nang Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital, instead of only at the large hospitals in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City as in the past.

Mr Dau remarked that, besides the provision of free operations, the programme serves as a bridge between generous donators from both home and abroad, and children with this common birth defect.

Doctor Nguyen Dinh Vinh, the Director of the Da Nang Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital underlined the great significance of the ongoing programme in accelerating the progress of his medical establishment, especially its Ophthalmology, Ear, Nose and Throat and Odonto-Maxillo-Facial Department.

The Da Nang Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital and the Ho Chi Minh City-based Children's Hospital No 1 recently entered into a cooperation agreement to implement the 2^nd stage of the programme from April 2018 until December 2020.

Three units and individuals receiving certificates of Merit from municipal People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho

Also at the event, Certificates of Merit from the municipal People’s Committee Chairman were presented to 3 units and individuals in recognition for their active engagement in this programme.

In a similar vein, a total of 10 units and individuals received Certificates of Merit from the municipal Department of Health.