Screening for children with cleft lip and palate in the programme (Photo: VNA)
The Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital in partnership with Operation Smile and the General Hospital of Ba Vi district launched a free surgical programme for underprivileged children with deformities on June 3.
Prior to the surgeries, doctors screened nearly 60 children with cleft lip and palate, many of whom come from disadvantaged families in remote localities.
These children suffer from congenital facial deformities, including untreated cleft lip and palate at various ages, as well as related conditions such as lip scars, palatal fistulas, nasal deformities, and dental arch clefts. The programme also covers congenital ptosis in children over five years old, polydactyly, and other facial anomalies.
All eligible patients will receive surgical interventions and post-operative care in accordance with Vietnamese medical standards and global care protocols.
According to Deputy Director of the Ba Vi General Hospital Nguyen Ngoc Vinh, the hospital arranged reception areas, screening facilities, patient wards, and operation rooms while providing accommodation support and more than 100 free meals for patients and their families.
Meanwhile, Director of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital Cao Duc Chinh said his hospital has partnered with Operation Smile for 36 years to bring smiles and hope to cleft lip and palate patients, helping them gain confidence and improve their quality of life.
With an experienced medical team, the hospital will work closely with the Ba Vi General Hospital to ensure that the cleft surgery programme runs safely and effectively. Beyond technical medical procedures, this initiative represents a mission to restore smiles and brighten futures for Vietnam's vulnerable children, he added./.
VNA