Project Vietnam Foundation (Vietnam)

Project Vietnam Foundation - Smiles for Hope

Since 1996, Project Vietnam Foundation has provided medical assistance to Vietnam, initially as a global programme of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), then as an separate non-profit organisation in order to expand and serve the families in need in Vietnam.

It provides healthcare to those in need through surgical corrections for children with birth deformities and eye defects, medical exams and treatment brought to villages and schools, and training healthcare professionals at all levels of the medical system, from villages to hospitals and academic centers.

Indeed, the prevalence of cleft lip, cleft palate, or both in affects 1750 newborns in Vietnam per year.  These children often have difficulty feeding without aspirating, leading to high risk of lung, ear and sinus infections, often resulting in hearing loss.  These children also have problems with speech, leading to developmental delays, and self-esteem issues.  If left untreated, these children often become marginalised in society and are dependent on their families for care and support.

In 2020, Eurofins Foundation supported Project Vietnam Foundation in providing substantial and crucial help to healthcare facilities through donating Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), but also to patients’ families in the most distressed communities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Foundation also supported Project Vietnam Foundation in bringing awareness of the issues facing children with special needs and promoting sustainable services, especially for ethnic minorities who have little access to healthcare.

This project contributes to the following United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals