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Doctors offer medical test to children |
Binh Dinh People’s Committee on Sept. 14 ratified the SAP-VN (Social Assistance Program for Vietnam)-funded “Orthopedic surgery and wheelchairs for disabled children” project.
“SAP-VN is a non-profit, non-governmental and non-religious humanitarian organization based in Garden Grove, California. Its primary objective is to provide direct relief to poor and needy people, especially orphans and handicapped children,” said Do Quang Hai, HCMC-based SAP-VN’s coordinator.
SAP-VN has coordinated with the central province of Binh Dinh in the past 10 year and the cooperation programs between two sides proved effective, he added.
SAP-VN, therefore, decided to continue cooperating with the province’s Department of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs and Quy Nhon Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Center, aiming to bring happiness to disabled children.
Under the project, about 500 disabled children will receive wheelchairs and orthopedic equipment in three years, 2010-2012, Hai said.
With the financial assistance of US$50,550, they will be totally sponsored during their treatment in the hospital. Also, the local budget will finance $3,000 for other activities.
Those who are in charge of the project will check out disabled children in the whole province for the medical test. Some who are capable of recovering will be then selected for orthopedic surgery. The others will receive wheelchairs and orthopedic equipment.
Related issues, such as community integration and community-based rehabilitation, will be also carried out at the same time.
The project will be implemented in 159 localities in the whole province, focusing on rural as well as far and remote areas where many disabled children are living.
Statistics showed there are now 6,223 disabled children in Binh Dinh. They are now facing many difficulties in their life.
The province’s functional bodies have coordinated with domestic and international charities and organisations to protect and take care of children.
In addition, the Department conducted many programs helping disadvantaged kids, particularly orphans and disabled ones.
The Department’s Children Sponsoring Fund has cooperated with SAP-VN and Quy Nhon Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Center to provide orthopedic surgery for 619 disabled children as well as orthopedic tools and wheelchairs for the others since 2000.
The Fund and relevant bodies have also offered surgery to 43 children and aided 43 with orthopedic equipment in the first nine month this year.
Alongside these, Catholic Relief Services-funded “Integration education and community-based support for disabled children in Agent Orange/dioxin-affected areas” project and the Vietnam Assistance for the Handicapped-sponsored “Supporting the disabled and AO/dioxin victims” project have being implemented, benefiting thousands of disabled people, including more than 200 handicapped children.
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