The program of cleft lip and palates surgery carried out by Korean Il Woong Cleft Lip And Palates Association in collaboration with provincial General Hospital has developed an friendly relation between the two organizations through happy smiles of patients as well as participants…
Smiles remain
In the 90s, Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc province had many adults and children born with cleft lip and palates, or maxillofacial deformities. Due to difficult family circumstances, they were not able to afford surgery. Therefore, their lives were filled with inferiority complex. Their sadness of unfortunate persons raised the concern of physicians, authorities, and the community. Therefore, provincial health sector entreated Korean professors and doctors, and then received special help of Professor Byoung-Il Min.
In 1995, Prof. Min laid the foundation of the charity cleft lip and palates surgery in Binh Duong province. At that time, Prof. Min was the Chairman of Il Woong Cleft Lip And Palates Association, professor of National Seoul University, and adviser of Korean Cleft Lip And Palates Association. Prof. Min agreed with provincial health sector to send annually a delegation of skilled professors, doctors, and nurses to coordinate with provincial General Hospital to conduct surgeries, and support some medical equipment.
Party Standing Committee Member cum provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee Mr. Huynh Van Nhi visited patients receiving cleft palates surgery from this program.
The program has lasted over 20 years. From 1995-2014, Il Woong Cleft Lip And Palates Association, provincial General Hospital, National Seoul University, and Korean plastic surgeons carried out 20 stages of cleft lip and palates surgery given to 453 patients in Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc province. Smiles appeared on faces of not only 453 patients but also their families and those who participated in this program.
Provincial Department of Health’s Deputy Director cum provincial General Hospital’s Director Dr. Van Quang Tan said, among 453 patients, there were 234 patients with cleft palates, 209 patients with cleft lip, and 10 patients with other maxillofacial deformities. All patients received free surgeries and had good postoperative results. The program has helped them live better, and brought joy, happiness for many families.
Enhancing the program
Starting as an assistance program, over years, the program has become a friendly relationship. Representative of Korean delegation said, in recent years, they came to provincial General Hospital not to help anymore but to coordinate with doctors here to carry out surgery. Thus, this is a cooperative program developed by the two units.
Dr. Van Quang Tan assessed: “After surgeries, provincial General Hospital learned a lot of knowledge, valuable practical experiences, and new surgical techniques transfer. These are the opportunities and favorable conditions for the development of provincial orthodontic maxillofacial sector. Currently, doctors of provincial General Hospital can conduct successfully cleft lip and palates surgery. We always honor, remember and hope that the friendship between the two sides will always develop”.
Within 20 visits to the province, Il Woong Cleft Lip And Palates Association offered many medical equipment to provincial General Hospital, such as: dental machines and chairs, X-ray systems, patient monitors, anesthesia machines, surgical ablation machines, surgical tables, surgical fixed and mobile lights, suction machines… Total value was of more than VND4.3 billion.
20 years of friendship and cooperation mean 20 free maxillofacial surgery programs realized by two sides, bringing smiles back on faces of poor patients. Thereby, spring has come back on happy faces of people with disabilities.
Reported by C.Ly – Translated by Ngoc Huynh
