(VNF) - As part of their social initiatives, Family Medical Practice Vietnam (FMP) and the Embassy of Israel in Vietnam have co-organized free medical checkups and treatment camps for needy residents of nine communes in Kon Plong from September 11^th-18^th.

Ambassador of Israel to Vietnam Meirav Eilon Shahar and other people took part in the humanitarian camps carry bags of basic necessities to offer to needy people in Kon Plong District. (Photo: Duong Trang/VNS)

Despite heavy rains and floods due to a storm that recently hit the region, a medical team of 20 doctors, 30 nurses, and up to 70 other support staff have travelled to the region for a week-long, multi-site health treatment mission.

More than 16,000 residents from 3,500 households in Kon Plong were underwent health checkups by the doctor’s team, and are then given consultations, vaccinations, medicines and basic necessities such as food, books, clothes, shoes and blankets, free of cost. Doctors also instructed local people in basic hygienic practices, from hand washing to brushing teeth.

“I am glad to have an occasion to take part in this humanitarian camp. Witnessing their difficult life, we really want to help them,” said Philippe Collin, FMP’s pediatrician.

The programme also handed over a USD27,000 modern ultrasound machine to the district hospital.

Ambassador Meirav Eilon Shahar (R) and Dr. Rafi Kot (2^nd R) watch as a doctor from the Kon Plong District’s medical centre uses the new modern ultrasound machine. (Photo: Vuong Bach Lien/VNS)

The Embassy of Israel in Vietnam also provided Hieu Commune’s people with two wells in order to help local people access clean water in the commune. The Embassy also refurbished Mang But Commune’s Junior Ethnic High School and handed textbooks and stationery to all of its students.

“The Embassy of Israel in Vietnam is always attuned to the needs of Vietnamese people, and as such, we wanted to join hands with FMP to assist and support the people of Kon Plong with heath care, water accessibility and education. Israel and Vietnam enjoy close cooperation between their countries and people, and this project is a part of the Embassy’s ongoing social initiatives,” Meirav Eilon Shahar, Israel’s Ambassador to Vietnam, commented on these activities.

The Ambassador also said that some severe cases that were detected during this medical checkup will be transferred to HCM City for free treatment by FMP’s doctors.

“We are touched by the caring support of the medical team with industrious doctors who have come to help the region,” said Dao Duy Khanh, director of Kon Tum Province’s Health Department.

Free medicines were given to residents in Kon Plong commune. (Photo: FMP Vietnam)

Kon Plong is home to some of Vietnam’s most disadvantaged communities including the Xe Dang, Mo Nam, Ka Dong and H’Re minority tribes.

“In some places there are concrete roads, but other roads are still just pathways. Many residents living in the most remote communes need to walk 15km for three or four hours and pass over hills and mountains to get to the commune’s medical centre,” said Dang Van Dien, director of the Kon Plong District Medical Centre.

“However, over the last few years, we are glad to see that more and more people are aware of the importance of medical health checks and going to the hospital more often,” he added.

The idea of this humanitarian camp came from Dr. Rafi Kot, FMP’s founder, who originally came to Vietnam to work for a Non-Government Organization in rural Vietnam 25 years ago. He fell in love with Kon Tum Province the first time he came here and promised he would return to help its inhabitants.

Previously, Dr. Kot has organized two other humanitarian missions, offering medical care to local people in Kon Tum’s Kon Ray District in 2006, and central Quang Binh Province in 2007./.

Minh Phuong