VOLUNTEERS AROUND THE WORLD: “MOBILE CLINICS FOR CHILDREN” PROGRAM (January 3, 2019 –January 9, 2019)

This was the first time that VAW cooperated with Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy to organize these clinics. “Volunteers Around the World (VAW), an organization was founded by Mark and Rebecca Stanley in 2006, is a humanitarian organization and social enterprise devoted to improving the standard of living for those that live in some of the most poverty-stricken communities of the world. In 2017, this organization opened a new Medical Outreach site in Southeast Asia. Its focus is to provide communities with access to medical and dental treatment, medication, nutritional security, clean water and health education.”[1]

After seven days of the program were completed with encouraging results. The team conducted medical examinations and distributed medications to 656 patients in Can Tho city (Future school, Can Tho school for disabled children, Can Tho social work center) and in Soc Trang province (Xuan Hoa primary school, Tra Ech church). During the time of these activities, the pediatric doctors also actively guided and shared American students about the system and the process of medical examination and treatment in Vietnam. Besides, the American students also have the opportunity to participate in supporting activities such as taking medical histories, taking vital signs, medication distribution, and shadowing medical doctors.