Project Overview
The 2009 Medical Trek was a great success. There were 45 participants on the trek: 29 American participants (5 doctors, the rest qualified nurses & medical students), 6 Vietnamese doctors from Hanoi and 10 Vietnamese volunteers as ground organizers/interpreters. Around 1,200 patients in the northern province of Hoa Binh’s Mai Chau District were treated over two weeks. For most of them, this was the first time to see doctor in their lives.
Footprints provided funding for locally purchased medical supplies that were carried into the highlands to set up the clinic.
Project activities and outcomes:
The trek participants were divided into two work groups:
1. Medical group
Healthcare professionals and students in health fields joined with Vietnamese physicians and nurses to deliver first aid and medical services.
They utilized the 1000's of items of medicine and equipment donated through this project to treat 1200 patients, many of whom had never seen a doctor. On one day, over 400 patients were seen to. Fortunately there wasn't a lot of trauma or emergency cases which might have required a higher level of care.
The medical supplies were all purchased locally in VietNam, creating a trickle effect throughout local businesses. The supplies included antibiotics, antibacterials, respiratory, diarrhoea and pain relief drugs.
2. Village development group
This group built and repaired a local kindergarten, a project that had been started prior to the trek arrival. In the last village, there was a hand-over ceremony in front a preschool with the joining of local villagers and children which marked the highlight of the trip.
Can I visit this project?
Yes! Buffalo Tours are currently organising the 2010 VietNam medical Trek. Visit the website and make contact.
Also, you can see some great photos of the project here on flickr.com:
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)