Hue provides free surgery for disadvantaged children with cleft lips, palates

Lifestyle

Hue provides free surgery for disadvantaged children with cleft lips, palates
Medical specialists and professors from Germany, Italy, Austria, and Spain conducted screenings for 80 children with cleft lips and palates and other congenital deformities. Following medical assessments, nearly 40 cases were selected for reconstructive surgery.
A health worker examines the surgical wound of a patient after surgery. (Photo: VNA)

Hue (VNA) – Nearly 40 children from disadvantaged backgrounds across Vietnam received free at the Hue Central Hospital from March 8–13 under a humanitarian programme jointly organised by the hospital’s Odonto-Stomatology Centre and the Interplast volunteer surgical team from Germany.

The initiative helped restore smiles and improve confidence for young patients, enabling them to better integrate into daily life.

Medical specialists and professors from Germany, Italy, Austria, and Spain conducted screenings for 80 children with cleft lips and palates and other congenital deformities. Following medical assessments, nearly 40 cases were selected for reconstructive surgery.

During the programme, the Interplast team introduced several advanced techniques, including bone grafting using hip bone tissue to close palate defects and specialised anaesthesia procedures for premature and underweight infants.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Tuyen, a resident of Hue whose six-year-old son underwent surgery during the programme, expressed gratitude to the medical teams for providing free treatment and dedicated care. She said the operation would help her child communicate more confidently and participate fully in school activities.

Professor Hidding of Germany, visiting Hue for the 9th time to join the charity programme, praised the professional coordination between the Odonto-Stomatology Centre and the Hue Central Hospital. Thorough patient examinations and well-prepared medical records contributed to successful surgeries, Hidding said, adding that he plans to continue cooperation with the hospital in the coming years.

Cleft lip and palate remain among the most common congenital conditions, particularly in Asia. In Vietnam, more than 3,000 children are born each year with these deformities, which affect both health and social confidence. The demand for treatment remains high, especially among disadvantaged families.

According to Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Hong Loi, Director of the Odonto-Stomatology Centre, Interplast has partnered with the Hue Central Hospital since 2016, jointly performing surgeries for more than 1,000 disadvantaged children. The collaboration not only provides free treatment for patients but also enables the transfer of modern surgical and anaesthesia techniques to local medical staff./.

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