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Project report

Medical supplies for remote villages, Vietnam Viet Nam , RUN BY: Buffalo Tours | STATUS: COMPLETED

A doctor from Seattle treats a local boy during a temporary clinic, Mai Chau Highlands, 2009.

This project is 100% Funded

 

 

AUD 6,002

Raised from 2,226 people



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:

 
How was it this funded?

Thanks to hundreds of tiny donations from these online businesses and their customers.

***WorldNomads.com.au
***WorldNomads.co.nz
World Nomads USA
World Nomads Canada
www.WorldNomads.com
***World Nomads UK
 
Buffalo Tours

Buffalo Tours run inspirational travel in IndoChina.  As a Footprints project partner, they organise the logistics for medical treks into remote regions in Vietnam.  The participants are volunteer Doctors from the Seattle Community College, USA.