The project cost will cover
Medicines including antibiotics, antibacterials, respiratory, diarrhoea and pain relief drugs + vitamins for 1000 people (see full list below), purchased locally to support Vietnamese communites.
Aims and objectives
A team of 20 or more volunteer doctors will trek into the remote villages of Hang Kia and Bao La, Mai Chau district of Northern VietNam in August 2009.
Their mission is to set up temporary health clinics to provide vital and much needed medical services to remote hill tribes, many of whom have never seen a Doctor before.
Examining up to 250 patients a day, the volunteers aim to provide emergency care, women’s health and family planning, as well as treating common ailments for the villagers such as high blood pressure, back pain and tropical diseases. They will also run oral hygiene workshops for the village children.
For anyone requiring an operation, they will be referred to the district hospital 35-40km away.
The Footprints Network is supporting the trek through the provision of much needed medicines and supplies. Additionally, WorldNomads.com will be sending a small camera crew to capture the experience and create a documentary film.
Why is this project needed?
In these remote villages, there are not many medical services available. Many villagers have never seen a doctor.
According to Dr. Cuong, director of the Mai Chau district hospital, helminth infections (parasitic worms), acute respiratory infections and malnutrition are quite common in children. The present prevalence of malnutrition in children under 5 in this area is estimated from 25-30%.
In women, gynecological diseases are very common as are fungal infections. While in elderly people, eye infections, cataract, hypertension and cardiovascular disease are also common. Fortunately, malaria is not common in this area and the national eradication program of malaria is very successful there.
Project Partners
The logistics for the medical trek are being organized by Buffalo Tours. The Doctors are from the Seattle Community Colleges and are funding their own trip costs. Additionally, Dr Sneh Khemka, the Medical Director for BUPA International will be attending.
Full List of Medical Supplies.
It is anticipated that the doctors will need to bring a wide range of medicines including:
- Anaesthetics
- Analgesics
- Anti-allergics and anaphylaxis medicines
- Anticonvulsants/Antiepileptics
- Anti-infectives
- Antihelminthics
- Antimalarials
- Antianemia drugs
- Antifungals, Scabicides
- Treatment for Specific infections, such as
- Conjunctivitis
- Cystitis (UTI)
- Dysentery
- Meningitis
- Pyoderma, abscess
- Urethral discharge
- Gastrointestinal Treatments including
- Antacids
- Diarrhea
- Laxatives
- • Respiratory treatments for
- Asthma
- Acute otitis
- URI/Upper respiratory tract infection
- Lower respiratory infection/pneumonia
- Vitamins (multi, vit A, Vit C) and minerals
- Wound treatments e.g. dressing/gauze materials, adhesive tape, scalpels, antiseptics, scissors)
