A Season full of “Little Dates”

For children, summer is always the season of little dates. Each child holds their own joyful summer schedule in their heart. But not every plan comes as expected. When illness appears, those simple dreams fall apart, leaving behind sadness, tiredness and a longing for home.

In 2024, more than 18,000 children missed their summer because of hand, foot and mouth disease caused by bacteria. These numbers are not just data. There are thousands of forgotten smiles, afternoons spent in hospital beds instead of flying kites, the sadness in children's eyes, and the quiet sighs of parents watching their little ones in hospital rooms instead of seeing them run and laugh with their friends.

In 2024, more than 18,000 children missed out on summer because of hand, foot and mouth disease caused by bacteria. Photo Courtesy of the company

Missed Summers

This summer, instead of running around on a familiar football field, Quang Huy, 8 years old, is now being treated at Hai Duong Children’s Hospital. “I usually play football with my friends. It’s really fun, but these past few days my stomach hurt, so I had to come to the hospital,” Huy said. He has been in the hospital for four days now, and his arm still hurts from the injections. Huy hopes to get well soon so he can enjoy the summer he has been waiting for.

Just like Huy, in another hospital room, Chi (15 years old, at Lao Cai Maternity and Children’s Hospital) has also been staying in the hospital for many days due to measles. “The illness made it so I can’t go out and play with my friends,” she said. Chi is counting each day to go out again and enjoy a real summer like her friends.

For Hoang Phuc (6 years old, at Long An General Hospital), his dream summer is much simpler. “I miss my sister. I want to play with my toy car. I want to stay at home and watch cartoons,” he said. Phúc was admitted to the hospital because of stomach pain, so he reminded: “I want to tell everyone to wash their hands often and keep clean so they don’t get sick.”

Hoang Duong (10 years old, at Hue Central Hospital) got enteritis and had to stay in the hospital during summer. “In the hospital, I can’t play football with my friends. The doctor told me to eat properly, wash my hands before eating, and rest to get better,” he said. Duong hopes to recover soon so he can have another trip to make up for the one to Vung Tau he missed this summer.

So that no more summers are missed

Every summer is a precious time for children. Yet not all of them get to enjoy a true summer filled with fun and freedom. Each year, summer dreams are quietly left behind in hospital rooms leaving a gap in childhood that’s hard to fill.

With a 30-year journey in Viet Nam, Lifebuoy has worked tirelessly to spread awareness about hygiene helping bring smiles back to children, easing parents’ worries and contributing to a healthier future for Vietnamese families.