The 5 member WHA team had arrived in Laos last night to start the Laos Discovery Mission in preparation for the 2008 medical and dental mission. The team went to work shortly after its arrival and met local hosts and officials. Laos and its capital city, Vientiane, are definitely interesting places to see and visit. It is a former French colonial teritory so there is a nostalgic French influence on the city's architecture and customs. It is much less populated than other countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia so the street are not as noisy or over crowded with traffic which gives it a relatively "tranquill" atmosphere. The foods are very tasty with distinctive flavor but at time has a touch of Thai, Vietnamese, French and other countries mixed in. The team will try keep everyone up to date regularly of our mission progress since internet access is not readily available.
Today was an eventful day. Our group split up into two to utilize our time with as many people here as possible. Two met up with government officials while the rest of us met up with a NGO member who has helped us arrange meetings with the doctors here. After breakfast, we were invited to participate in a Lao traditional two month baby birth day celebration and family gathering callled Basee. This is a large family affair with plenty of tradional food and we were made quite welcome.
After lunch, we went to visit a nearby school and potential village site for the upcoming mission. The Laotian people are very warm and hospitable everywhere we go. We have also been told that "90% of foreigners who live here marry here" (a local Laotian).
These past couple of days have been busy! On Monday, we met with the deputy director of the residency program at Laos's School of Health Sciences and other medical faculty, and the Vice-Chief of the Cabinet, Ministry of Health. We also met with the director and several doctors at Malhosot Hospital. We also toured Mother and Child Hospital and spoke to several doctors there. Through these meetings, we got a good understanding of the level of tertiary healthcare available in Laos.
On Tuesday, we met with several doctors at the Lao medical school, including the director of the residency program, and they were quite helpful in describing the Lao medical situation. It is quite clear from these meetings that the healthcare system in Laos is critically short in manpower, advanced technical skills, and resources at all levels. Afterwards, we went to various pharmacies to check out their capacity to refill our supplies, if needed. Then we flew to Luang Prabang with three representatives of our host organization. Luang Prabang is a magnificent city that was the former home of Laos royalty and a former French colony. The rustic city, nestled among mountains with multiple rivers coursing through it, is filled with French colonial architecture, palm trees, and charm. It is easy to see why Luang Prabang is a designated world heritage center.
On Wednesday, we started our day at 6am with the giving of alms, which is a tradition of Luang Prabang in which villagers give out food to the procession of young monks streaming from the temples. Then we headed out to a remote village to evaluate it as a potential site for next year's mission. Then, we visited an orphanage, where we were welcomed by the director, and dropped off a supply of vitamins and candies. The children were thrilled to see us and the director expressed her hope that WHA could return next year and provide sorely needed care for these children.
Luang Prabang Orphanage
Orphanage children
rummage for food in the backwoods
Early morning alms ritual
We are happy to report that we have gotten tentative permission for a medical & dental relief mission to Laos next year. We will be looking for a few dedicated and adventurous team members soon. Let us know if you are interested in joining us for the upcoming mission or helping us in any other way.
Our accomodations have been more or less comfortable but not quite sky-full-of stars. Internet access has not been readily available and we apologize for our delays in keeping everybody updated. We'll send you some pictures as soon as we can!
On Thursday, we visited Luang Prabang’s brand new provincial hospital, which was recently built with a grant from China. The hospital has a modern feel and is well-ventilated. The hospital vice director gave our team a tour and a breakdown of the hospital’s capabilities and capacities. The hospital treats approximately 37,000 patients annually and has a large OB-GYN department. Despite the hospital’s modern feel, it became evident that the hospital is practically an empty shell. The hospital ER does not have a working defibrillator. The hospital has only one usable portable X-ray machine, 2 ventilators, and no true ICU due to lack of cardiac monitoring and airway equipment. The hospital staff is comprised of family practice physicians, one internist, general surgeons, and OB&GYN physicians, but virtually no other medical or surgical specialists. Worst, this is one of their better provincial hospital.
Typical hospital condition & over crowding which spilled into courtyard
On Friday, we flew back to Saigon, Vietnam and visited Hao, the 34-month old boy who had suffered from a severe, life-threatening congenital heart malformation called Tetralogy of Fallot. Our team had brought Hao from Can Tho to Ho Chi Minh City, initiated his cardiac evaluation, and coordinated his corrective heart surgery, which took place two weeks ago. We were delighted to be able to visit Hao while he was still in the hospital and thrilled to see his rapid recovery. Since his surgery, he has gained two pounds, has been able to eat solid food for the first time in his life, has become more talkative, and no longer has a bluish cyanotic skin tone. It was an emotional experience for us and Hao’s family.
Baby Hao showing off surgery scar & enjoying lunch
Dr. Thien, Dr. Doanh, Liza, Baby Hao, Grandmother, Vinnie, Caroline
Thank you to each of the WHA members, both at home and abroad, for their enormous contributions. Without your efforts, Hao would not have a future.
This has been a tremendous diplomacy mission for the team. We traveled extensively in Laos, visiting hospitals and an orphanage, met with hospital and governmental officials, and participated in local customs, including the giving of alms and eating stir-fried crickets. We left Laos with a feeling of determination and direction. Laos is a very poor country with a beautiful countryside, rustic cities, and warm-hearted people, and they are in sore need of medical assistance. The team just wishes it can do more to help.
We will have conference call this coming week to discuss the preparation for a medical and dental mission to Laos in 2008. The scope of operation of the World Health Ambassador Program has grown appreciably since its inception. In order for the team to continue its work in Laos and Vietnam, the team will need to raise significantly more funds as well as more medical supplies and equipments. I hope everyone in the program will be able to pitch in and help with these critical aspects. WHA is a 501c3 non-profit organization with a very dedicated all volunteer force and very little overhead expenses. All donations are tax deductible and go toward the medical/dental relief missions, community outreach and medical teaching programs. Donations are accepted online at our website www.whausa.org
Special thanks go out to anh Ca from the Vietnam Assistance for the Handicapped (VNAH) program and to Elena Olivi with PSI for their invaluable assistance with this Laos mission, and to the dedicated and adventurous members on the team as follow: Dr. Thien Do (director), Dr. Doanh Lu (vice director), Caroline Ngo, JD (foreign affair), Liza Hoang (logistic support), Vinnie Ngo (logistic support).
Thien Do, MD, FACC
& the Laos discovery team
World Health Ambassador Program
RETURN TO TOP
