Party General Secretary Tô Lâm's spouse Ngô Phương Ly took a group photo with doctors at Evelina London Children’s Hospital. VNA/VNS Photo

LONDON — Ngô Phương Ly, the wife of Party General Secretary Tô Lâm, has visited Evelina London Children’s Hospital, one of the most advanced and prestigious paediatric medical institutions in the United Kingdom.

The visit was supported by the UK-based charity Facing the World, which for decades has brought doctors and experts to Việt Nam to perform life-changing surgeries on hundreds of Vietnamese children.

The tour took place during the official visit to the UK from October 28–30 by General Secretary Lâm, his spouse, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation.

Ly was briefed on the hospital’s history, operations, and cooperation with Vietnamese hospitals in surgery and medical training, much of which has been facilitated by Facing the World through its coordination with hospitals in Hà Nội.

She then toured the hospital’s paediatric cardiology inpatient ward, where she met young patients, offered them gifts, and expressed her sympathy and encouragement. Lỳ said she was deeply moved to witness firsthand one of the world’s leading models of paediatric healthcare, a combination of scientific excellence and compassion.

Healthcare, she said, is always a matter of great social concern as it directly affects quality of life, particularly the well-being of children, who deserve to be cared for and protected with utmost dedication.

She praised Evelina London’s humane approach to paediatric care, noting with appreciation that its doctors have long participated in medical cooperation programmes in Việt Nam, providing consultations and surgeries for Vietnamese children.

The Party leader’s wife noted that in Việt Nam, many children are born each year with congenital defects. Despite rapid national development, resources remain limited, particularly in remote and rural areas, where access to quality healthcare remains a challenge. 

Thanks to the expertise and compassion of Evelina London’s doctors, many Vietnamese children have undergone successful surgeries, carried out largely thanks to the work of Facing the World.

She said she was especially happy to see children smiling fully for the first time after cleft palate operations and others walking again after complex orthopaedic procedures.

“Their work stands as proof of the importance of international medical cooperation and as a beautiful symbol of friendship between Việt Nam and the UK,” Ly said.

Katrin Kandel, CEO of Facing the World, said:

“It was such an honour that the First Lady of Việt Nam took time out of her incredibly busy schedule to visit Evelina London Children’s Hospital and see for herself the frankly amazing work carried out by doctors and medical staff. It was also a privilege to inform her of the superb, dedicated and hardworking young Vietnamese medical staff we’ve been fortunate enough to work with over a number of years, both in Việt Nam and through exchange visits we’ve helped to organise with numerous hospitals in the UK.”

Commending the effective and humane partnership between Evelina London and Vietnamese hospitals, the Party leader’s wife expressed hope that the collaboration will continue to expand, not only in treatment but also in training, research, and the development of a modern paediatric healthcare system, for the healthy future of children in both nations. — VNA/VNS