A longstanding & successful cooperation

Green Cross Switzerland and the Hospital for Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation in Da Nang have been working together for 20 years now within the framework of the Socmed programme. This cooperation has resulted in thousands of people affected by Agent Orange, mostly children, receiving urgently needed medical support in the form of surgical treatment, prostheses, and orthoses as well as rehabilitation.

This humanitarian effort was recently honoured during a working visit by Basel-based orthopaedic specialist Dr Daniel Hueskes. Dr Thanh, Director of the hospital, presented Dr Hueskes and Ms Pham Thuy, the project coordinator of the Green Cross Socmed programme in Vietnam, with a certificate of thanks for this longstanding cooperation.  

During Dr Hueskes’ visit, eight patients were examined in collaboration with the local orthopaedic technicians. In addition, Dr Hueskes and local specialists carried out examinations at Vietcot, the training centre for orthopaedic technicians in Hanoi. They examined twelve patients and defined further treatments.

This valuable work emphasises the importance of international cooperation in making a lasting and positive difference to the lives of victims of highly dangerous herbicides such as Agent Orange.