REPORT ON MOBILE CLINIC PROGRAM
IN QUANGTHANH COMMUNE OF QUANGDIEN DISTRICT OF T.T. HUE PROVINCE
18th November, 2006
I. Objectives:
Provide general health care for needy families and children who are living in the poor and remote areas in Vietnam and to identify cases for corrective surgery or other serious medical conditions that require better care.
II. Background:
Quang Thanh is 15 Km far from the centre of Hue city toward the North-East, and is one of the poorest communes of QuangDien. The main occupational activities within this district are rice planting, and pig and poultry breeding. Frequent, harsh floods and drought, compounded with existing difficult economic state cause the local people many difficulties. Although there is a local infirmary in the commune, the medical facility there is dilapidated and the many of the residences do not have Medical Insurance Card and do not have the financial capability to afford seeing a doctor.
FHF decided to join forces with QuangThanh's People Committee to carry out an MCP in this district in order to alleviate the lack of sufficient medical care in this region. This is the third time FHF has organized an MCP in this area.
III. Planning:
Before the medical mission, Mr Khanh, representative of FHF in Hue, had a meeting with the local authorities of QuangThanh commune to discuss implementation plan. A QuangThanh representative would be responsible for identifying 250 needy people in the villages of the commune; for delivering these individuals medical tickets in advance; and for sending three officers to co-operate with FHF in order to guarantee safety for the medical team and the patients.
The medical team comprised of 9 members, including 6 voluntary doctors and 1 pharmacist from Hue Central Hospital and Hue Hospital; Mr Khanh from FHF; and one Japanese volunteer from JICA. Medicines were purchased in Hue City.
IV. Implementation:
The medical team started at 7:30AM on November 18, 2006 in Hue, and after half an hour of driving by car, arrived in Quang Thanh Commune. Two large rooms at the first floor were used as consultation rooms; two branching areas as waiting rooms; and one as a pharmacy. Medical examination began at 8:30, with every patient that came for examination was given a medical ticket in advance. After finishing the medical examination, patients moved to the pharmacy to receive free medicine.
1. During one day, we examined and delivered medicine to a total of 249 patients, including 98 children:
- Helminthiasis: 87 cases
- Virus influenza: 56 cases
- Disordered digestion: 125 cases
- Bronchitis: 76
- Cardiovascular disease: 87 cases
- Skin disease: 5 cases
- Fibrositis, Arthritis: 98 cases
- Others: 6 cases
2. Medication distribution: (List enclosed)
V. Financial summary:
Pay for medicine |
4,700,000 |
Expenditure for the Doctors |
350,000 |
Pay for hiring a bus |
350,000 |
Pay for having a breakfast |
50,000 |
|
|
Pay for copying a medical ticket |
50,000 |
Photos |
50,000 |
Pay for making the slogan of FHF |
50,000 |
Total: |
5,600,000(350USD, 1USD = 16.000DVN) |
VI. Future follow-ups:
We intend on having another MCP in QuangThanh commune in May of 2007. This is because the area is still medically under-served. We also identified many patients with digestion disorders and cardiovascular diseases that will need another check-up and potential long-term care.
VII. Special cases:
Through this MCP, we identified 4 cases that need extra help:
1. Le Ba Loc, a 4-year-old boy with innate collapsed eyelid. He can not see well and his eyes are usually infected due to too much tearing. His parents, who are both farmers, can not afford to treat for their son due to their limited and meager income. According to Dr. Lap, Loc needs to receive operation otherwise the consequences will be very dangerous. Next week, Loc’s mother will bring him to Hue Central Hospital for diagnoses. Afterwards, FHF will know the exact surgical cost for him and FHF will try to find a sponsor for Loc.
2. Nguyen Dinh Hoang, a 13-year-old boy with heart disease. His parents are farmers with low income and they therefore can not afford to pay hospital fees for him. We will send him to Hue Central Hospital for diagnoses and will find a sponsor for him.
3. Le Thi Kieu Trang, a 4-year-old girl with syndactylism. Trang will be sent to the Hue hospital for diagnoses. The estimated travel fee will be $9.3 USD. The exact cost for her procedure will be determined by the Hue Hospital.
4.Le Thi Lan, a 12-year-old girl with sprained groin. Her condition was discovered when she was 3 years old. She received surgery at Hue Central Hospital under the sponsorship of another charitable organisation. However, one year later, her situation did not get better but actually gotten worse. Her movement is now very difficult and her body is canted when moving. Last year, her parent took her to see a doctor at Hue Central Hospital and was told the surgical fee would be about $200USD. The parents, however, could not afford this procedure.
5. Regarding the medical facilities of QuangThanh’s Clinic, we should consider financing for them one new medical tools called Five Senses since their medical tools are very poor (enclosed picture). This has affected their ability to correctly diagnose medical conditions. According to Dr. Phuong, head of the clinic, these tools are very necessary but the Government does not provide these equipments so the doctors have to provide these medical supplies by themselves—depending on the quality, one set costs about 156.25USD to $406.25.
Besides carrying out the MCP, we also distributed second-hand clothing to the villagers. These clothing were collected from the volunteers of GVN.
Hue city, 22 November, 2006
Reporter
Truong Trong Khanh