Dr Hà Anh Đức examines an elderly patient for eye disease at the free health check-up event in Quảng Ngãi Province. — VNA/VNS Photo

How has this year’s free health care and examination programme been carried out by the Việt Nam Young Physicians Association?

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Việt Nam Young Physicians Association (VYPA), and we will organise a series of events including the charity medical examination event ‘For a healthy Việt Nam’.

As part of this programme, we will travel to 30 cities and provinces to provide free health check-ups, medications, medical advice and gifts to the people.

To date, thousands of people have received free examinations, advice and medications alongside various gifts for disadvantaged families in difficult localities, particularly remote areas.

In addition to the main objective which is health check-ups, preventive medicine and health consultation, a highlight of the programme is to help detect cases of congenital heart diseases or cataracts for prompt medical intervention.

How is the programme going so far?

After Yên Bái and Hải Phòng, Quảng Ngãi is the third destination where VYPA organised the programme providing free health check-ups, medications and gifts. The free health care and examination event in Quảng Ngãi Province last week was held on Lý Sơn Island and Bình Hòa Commune of Bình Sơn District.

In particular, Lý Sơn is where a campaign supporting local people in fishing trips was launched by the health sector.

This time, VYPA doctors of different expertise from central-level hospitals conducted check-ups for Lý Sơn people and presented gifts to fishermen who joined forces to protect our seas and islands.

Bình Hòa Commune was one of the localities most impacted by a massacre 68 years ago, so this event is a tribute to people in an area that suffered from multiple disadvantages and the negative impact of the war against the US.

The result of the event in Lý Sơn Island and Bình Hòa Commune was that more than 50 cases of cataracts were detected, and we will work with hospitals in Đà Nẵng City for free surgeries. We also conduct preliminary examinations for children with heart diseases and bring them to medical facilities for cardiac surgeries and treatment.

What are the key activities in the programme’s charity examination and treatment?

During the programme, specialist doctors will screen for diseases in elderly people, particularly cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, high blood pressure, as well as other diseases related to bones and joints, in addition to free health consultation, prescriptions and gifts. We also organised a day focusing on washing hands with soap, where we taught primary school children the six-step handwashing instruction in localities that the programme covers.

A review of the charity medical examination programme in Bình Hòa Commune of Quảng Ngãi Province, with the engagement of doctors from central hospitals in Hà Nội, Huế, Đà Nẵng and HCM City, shows that around 700 people were examined and prescribed medications free of charge, while 500 children received gifts from the programme. These figures were, respectively, 500 and 200 at the event on Lý Sơn Island.

During the two-day event at these localities, 100 people who showed signs of eye-related diseases had their eyes examined, and around 50 of them will receive support for free eye surgery.

In particular, the programme and philanthropists will present 10 free cardiac surgeries to children born with heart diseases, each worth VNĐ50 million (US$2,000). In total, approximately VNĐ500 million ($20,000) was used to support patients with congenital heart diseases.

What is the significance of the programme ‘For a healthy Việt Nam’ to young physicians?

This programme is held by the VYPA in collaboration with the health sector’s youth steering committee, local authorities and sponsors to carry out the VYPA projects and campaigns leading to the Congress of Việt Nam Youth Union for the 2024-29 term.

With the aim to provide health care to the community, one of the purposes of this programme is to promote the pioneering spirit of young physicians across the country.

These mobile examinations let young doctors understand the difficulties and challenges that their colleagues and people in remote areas are facing, thereby sharing the burden, supporting each other in their profession and joining hands for a healthier Việt Nam.

The programme aims to promote the role of youth and their enthusiasm, bringing their skills and knowledge to provide services to patients in remote and border areas, as well as at sea and islands, who have difficulty accessing medical care. This is also an activity that encourages young people in health care to better engage in the sector’s volunteering activities. — VNS