HÀ NỘI — The 108 Military Hospital, in coordination with Operation Walk, will conduct free hip and knee surgeries for poor people.

The hospital will receive information of poor people in need of such operations from now until February 28. The patients can also call 02462784168, or 1900986869.

Documents must be enclosed with personal identity cards and poor household certificates.

About 60 patients will be chosen based on their condition.

The patients will receive free artificial joints. Each joint is worth VNĐ45-80 million (US$1,900-3,400).

The surgeries are scheduled for April.

Research shows that about 2 per cent of the total population need replacement hip or knee joints. The patients are often from poor remote areas thus many cannot afford the procedures.

This is the fourth time Operation Walk has come to Việt Nam and cooperated with local doctors.

Operation Walk is a humanitarian organisation based in the US. It focuses on techniques and surgeries for joints. — VNS