In 2020, My Thien Odonto-Stomatology Hospital has operated a Research & Training Center on Comprehensive Cleft Lip-Palate Care in Ho Chi Minh City. This is the ambition and enthusiasm of Associate Professor. Dr. Lam Hoai Phuong, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Plastic Surgery Association at Ho Chi Minh City, Vice President of Vietnam Association of Odonto-Stomatology, former Head of the Department of Maxillofcial Surgery at Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Director of My Thien Odonto-Stomatology Hospital.With the desire to bring comprehensive laughter to underprivileged children across the country, My Thien Hospital has been coordinating with many major humanitarian organizations around the world to carry out volunteer surgery programs. periodically in Ho Chi Minh City.
Associate Professor. Dr. Lam Hoai Phuong said that there are currently many hospitals nationwide accepting treatment for children with cleft lip and palate. However, due to difficulties in human resources and facilities, most only focus on surgery rather than comprehensive treatment for children.
Doctor Phuong and a patient in a provincial volunteer surgery program
There are many risk factors that cause this defect such as genetics, environment, improper medication use by the mother, chemical exposure, and infection during pregnancy. Children with cleft lip and palate deformities face many difficulties in life such as respiratory failure, malnutrition, eating, and pronunciation, greatly affecting nutritional and physical development, aesthetics and function. Children often feel guilty and have low self-esteem, increasing the burden on their families. There are cases where mothers have to have an abortion because of some incorrect beliefs in folklore.
However, if parents are consulted right during pregnancy with the coordination of experts from many specialties including: pediatrics, nutrition, ENT, maxillofacial, language specialists , psychologist... with the right treatment plan at the right time, children born with cleft palate defects will have the opportunity to receive early treatment and the results will be very positive, the children will develop normally. usually and leaves almost no sequelae.
With that goal, My Thien Hospital established the Comprehensive Cleft Lip and Arch Treatment Center, to improve health care and promote access to comprehensive quality care for cleft patients. lip-palate. Comprehensive care includes prenatal detection of defects, pre- and postnatal psychological consultation, surgery, orthodontics with N.A.M appliances, speech therapy, cosmetic and nutritional care during treatment. Thus, with comprehensive treatment, children with cleft lip-palate deformities, in addition to having their anatomical structures restored, their language and pronunciation functions also return to normal, helping them become more confident in their speech. Communicate daily later.
With the help of international organizations, My Thien Hospital is expected to develop this Center to become a model in the Asia-Pacific Region for comprehensive care of cleft lip and palate deformities. . In addition, the Center will be a place for research and training for doctors in the Southern region and many other localities throughout the country.
Associate Professor. Dr. Lam Hoai Phuong is the first female doctor in Vietnam to cooperate in bringing international humanitarian surgery programs for children with cleft lip and palate deformities to Vietnam from 1990 until now.
