Health Care in Viet Nam

[Comanche]

Looks like Thi and I have a thing going on this section about Viet Nam. Hoi An is indeed a wonderful place. I am in Viet Nam now on one of my many trips back after living in the city of Hue in 2005-06.

My job on this trip is to photographically document projects by MEDRIX, the charitable group we have worked with for the past three years. MEDRIX is involved in health issues and safe water and needs documentation for the grants they receive.



This is the fourth year my wife has taught a course in English medical terminology to the doctors at Hue Central Hospital. She loves it! For a nurse/teacher, there is nothing quite so enjoyable as an eager and hardworking group of learners. The doctors already can read and speak English – they need to know the technical medical words (and how to pronounce them) so they can stay current in their fields and attend medical conferences. English is the common tongue of business and medicine in the world – the Vietnamese desire to learn English has nothing to do with wanting to be more western.





For the ten student nurses on this trip from Seattle Pacific University, this is a learning experience. They are doing their “clinical rotations” (practical experience) in pediatrics and public health. Americans like to think when they go on trips to third world countries that they will be teaching the local population, but in this case, the American students are under the tutelage of Vietnamese physicians.



The pediatrics department is housed in a new and modern building, though not quite like an American hospital. For instance, there are eight beds in a room – and the beds are adult beds because the mothers will be with their children all the time. Note that there aren’t guard rails on the beds, nor is the room air conditioned. The noise level is very high, privacy unknown, and a common bathroom for all. Nonetheless, the facilities are clean and well maintained.




And the students work with patients. This mother is a member of one of the hill tribes in the mountains (what American soldiers used to call Montagnards) who is very very poor – so poor, she ate nothing but cassava during her pregnancy. This is her fourth child: the first is dead, the second has cerebral palsy, the third is mentally retarded, and this one has a malformed heart valve that doesn’t return enough oxygenated blood to the body.



The baby’s cleft palate makes him unable to nurse, forcing the mother to try to feed him with a spoon. The infant is not expected to survive.



This mother ponders her baby’s future. The doctors have just left the bedside and she has learned the child’s digestive tract doesn’t allow enough nourishment for growth. While Viet Nam’s economy has boomed in recent years, wealth hasn’t spread quickly to the countryside. Health care is not free in Viet Nam, though the very poor are cared for regardless of ability to pay. Mom may be wondering how she will pay for the necessary surgery.

Obviously, you can't take photos like this in the US - - our privacy laws prohibit such work. It is great as a PJ to be able to get in and take such shots by doing nothing more than giving a smile to the person, pointing at the camera, and saying "Okay?"

As I write this, I am in the mountains. The students are now being paired with Vietnamese student nurses and will be working in village clinics and visiting home bound patients. I’ll keep you posted.

[ThiNguyen]

Doug,

That is cool stuff. I recent got my RN degree. I want to do some medical projects in VN. Maybe I can join this group the next time.

Thi

[Comanche]

Originally Posted by ThiNguyen

Doug,

That is cool stuff. I recent got my RN degree. I want to do some medical projects in VN. Maybe I can join this group the next time.

Thi

Hi Thi - -

This group is just students, but let me ask the lady who runs the organization - maybe she has some ideas. How is your Vietnamese? My wife teaches the English medical terminology course, and she speaks no VNese.

Doug

[ThiNguyen]

My VMese is fine at conversational level. But I have to learn the medical terms.

Thi

[VincentHerrera]

The redhead, pictured in #3 and #4, is stunning. Knock your socks off, stunning.

As I said, totally inappropriate. Sorry.

[bburton]

Another first-rate job of photojournalism, Doug. You tell and show a wonderful story.

[carrbowl]

Doug...I love looking at your photos and reading your stories. I am not a reader, so take that as a compliment!! you need to do NILMDTS....you would be awesome!!

[RicknTX]

Doug...

As a Vietnam vet, I appreciate the work this group you are documenting is doing as well as the learning work of the young student nurses. Good to see an occasional story of substance accompany a forum member's photos.

[Comanche]

Originally Posted by RicknTX

Doug...

As a Vietnam vet, I appreciate the work this group you are documenting is doing as well as the learning work of the young student nurses. Good to see an occasional story of substance accompany a forum member's photos.

Hi Rick - and to all the other Vietnam vets who read this.

I too am a vet. I did two tours here as a grunt. Came back with a CIB and not much else. I also met the lady you see in the topmost picture in 1969. She is now my wife. Cindy was an Army nurse here.

You guys would not believe how this country has changed - you just cannot know it until you come here. If any of you want to return, let me know and we'll organize a photo tour. You can also wander around my blog at www.virtual-doug.com. I blogged during the entire time I lived here in 2005-06.

Thanx to all of you for your kudos - they are appreciated. There will be more after I move out into the villages.