Doctors from the Republic of Korea’s (RoK) Chonbuk National University and Huế University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital examine a young child. — VNA/VNS Photo Tường Vi

THỪA THIÊN-HUẾ — As many as 56 children with genetic facial defects will receive free medical checkups and surgery in the central province of Thừa Thiên-Huế.

The programme is arranged by a delegation of experts from the Republic of Korea’s (RoK) Chonbuk National University, and Huế University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital (Huế UMP).

It provides free oral and maxillofacial surgeries for 30 children from July 15 to 20.
Doctors will also carry out check-ups on the youngsters who were part of last year’s programme.

Dr Trần Tấn Tài, vice head of the Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology at the Huế UMP, said Prof. Shin Hyo-keun of the Chonbuk National University and doctors and medical students from the RoK began the project in 2006.
From then on, the RoK delegation arranges annual examinations and surgeries for patients at the Huế UMP.
The programme has treated nearly 450 children with facial deformities with around 350 receiving cleft lip surgeries. The programme also offers opportunities for doctors of Việt Nam and the RoK to share their experiences and improve skills, he added.
In addition, the two universities have forged co-operation in many areas, including training and scientific research, grants for medical students, and admission of Huế UMP’s trainees to the RoK university, along with the establishment of a phonetic placement therapy centre for young patients, the first of its kind in the central and Central Highland regions. — VNS