PHÚ YÊN — More than 200 children will receive free-of-charge cleft lip and palate jaw examinations in the central province of Phú Yên.

The children are from central southern and Central Highlands provinces. The three-day programme, which started on Monday, was conducted by 40 doctors from the HCM City National Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology, the Hà Nội National Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology and the Việt Nam-Cuba Friendship Hospital.

After examining the children and consulting with their families, the doctors will choose the ones most in need and conduct free-of-charge surgeries.

The children receiving surgeries must be at least six months old and weigh at least eight kilogrammes.

The Operation Smile Organisation and the Vietnam Sika sponsor the programme.

Doctor Lê Trung Nghĩa, head of the medical team, said to prevent defects, women must keep healthy during pregnancy and avoid stress and hard work.

Phan Đình Phùng, deputy chairman of the Phú Yên People’s Committee, said the programme was especially helpful for poor families.

Phùng hoped the programme would continue to operate in the area.

He expected the doctors would transfer surgery technology to local doctors so that they can conduct surgeries for children themselves. — VNS