(VNF) - A new Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery Centre at the Hanoi-based Central Military Hospital 108 was officially opened on December 4.

UK Prince Andrew, the Duke of York; Katrin Kandel, Executive Director of Facing the World (FTW) - a UK-based medical charity and many Vietnamese and international officials attended the ceremony in Hanoi.

At the ceremony.

The new centre has been supported by FTW, which in the next 5 years aims to train 76 doctors and perform 35,000 life-changing operations.

Lieutenant General Mai Hong Bang, Director of the hospital, briefed the delegation on the 67 years of construction and development of the hospital. Over this period of time, the hospital has always overcome difficulties to fulfill all assigned missions while continually improving professionalism to elevate its quality and standards. Currently, the military hospital has cooperated with over 30 countries worldwide.

He hailded the great efforts of FTW and how much it has made a positive impact on many children’s lives in Vietnam.

Facing the World is a United Kingdom-based charity that provides facial reconstructive surgery for children in developing countries with severe and often life-threatening craniofacial disfigurements.

Since 2008, FTW has focused resources on international education and training of physicians, nurses and other medical staff involved in the treatment and care of children with craniofacial birth defects, in Vietnam.

Delegate cut the ribbon opening the Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery Centre.

During 10-years of operation in Vietnam, the organisation has co-ordinated with various Vietnamese hospitals in Hanoi and Da Nang to provide operations for thousands of Vietnamese children with facial deformities.

He also added that, in the past years, FTW has provided in-depth technical training for many Vietnamese doctors and practitioners of the hospital.

He voiced his hope that FTW will continue support the hospital and run more activities to bring better life for vulnerable Vietnamese children who suffer from facial disfigurement.

Prince Andrew, for his part, praised the great achievements of Military Central Hospital 108 over the past time.

“It is an enormous pleasure to join you today to mark this important moment for the 108 Hospital and the work of Facing the World. It is another measure of the special relationship that exists between the UK and Vietnam,” he said.

He called for stronger cooperation in medical cooperation and connection between the hospital and FTW. He also hoped that the two countries would further boost medical cooperation in the time to come.

Prince Andrew visits and offers well wishes for a speedy recovery to patients.

After the meeting, Prince Andrew toured the new Centre that will offer the first true multidisciplinary integrated approach to craniofacial surgery in Vietnam, treating over 2,000 patients per year - a 400% increase./.

Minh Phuong