UK Medical Mission Advances Craniofacial Trauma Care in Vietnam
A team of British medical professionals, led by surgeon Prof Mike Perry, is embarking on a craniofacial trauma surgery mission to Vietnam from November 16-30. According to a report, the initiative is part of an annual education exchange program funded by Facing the World (FTW), a UK-based medical charitable foundation dedicated to treating children in developing countries with craniofacial defects. This marks the 33rd mission since FTW began its collaboration with Vietnamese hospitals in 2008.
During this mission, Prof Perry, a consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon at the Northwick Park Hospital in London, will integrate foreign and Vietnamese doctors to facilitate training, team building, and innovative surgical approaches. The team will conduct complex surgeries for children with craniofacial trauma and deformities at Việt Đức, 108 Central Military, and Hồng Ngọc hospitals, FTW’s partners in Vietnam.
Notably, Prof Perry, listed among the Top 50 UK surgeons, will collaborate with local doctors to assess and create treatment plans for patients across Vietnam. Additionally, he will deliver lectures on acute facial trauma management, accessible online to doctors nationwide. The mission aligns with FTW’s commitment to developing sustainable expertise within Vietnam.
CEO Katrin Kandel emphasizes the importance of training Vietnamese medical teams, enabling them to lead patient consultations and operations domestically. This approach supports FTW’s hub-and-spoke model, building expertise in strategic locations for widespread accessibility. In the long term, FTW envisions the establishment of a craniofacial center in Southeast Asia, furthering surgical expertise training.
FTW’s involvement in Vietnam began in 2007, prompted by a high incidence of birth defects. Over the years, the foundation has facilitated surgeries for thousands of children, sent nearly 150 Vietnamese doctors for training abroad, and donated £2.4 million worth of telemedicine technology and surgical equipment. Looking ahead, FTW aims to enable an additional 40,000 operations by trained Vietnamese doctors in the next five years, send 200 more doctors abroad for training, and continue groundbreaking equipment donations. The foundation remains committed to its transformative role in advancing craniofacial care and expertise in Vietnam.
Source: VietNam News
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