Medical Programme

Orthopaedic projects are a central element of the medical programme. On the one hand, there are still mine victims in Vietnam who have been horribly mutilated by explosions. On the other hand, many Agent Orange victims who were born with malformations also need prostheses (to replace limbs) and orthoses (supporting limbs). Without these aids, children are often unable to go to school and their relatives are unable to work because they must care for them at home all day. As prostheses and orthoses are not covered by health insurance, they are unaffordable for many families.

This is where our donors make a crucial difference: they enable children and young people to attend school or play with friends. And adults can find paid work or simply participate in everyday life – things that we take for granted, but which remain impossible for people who do not receive this help.

In addition to prostheses and orthoses, the programme also includes operations and rehabilitation measures such as walking training. Long-term support is particularly important, as growing children need their aids to be regularly adjusted or replaced – often over many years.

To ensure this, Green Cross Switzerland works closely with local medical facilities such as the training centre for orthopaedic technicians in Hanoi (VIETCOT), the Huong Sen Rehabilitation Hospital in Tuyen Quang and the orthopaedic and rehabilitation clinics in Da Nang and Thai Nguyen. Since 2004, Swiss orthopaedic specialists and surgeons have also been travelling to Vietnam on a regular basis on a voluntary basis to work closely with local specialists.