Quang Tri Province, Central Vietnam
Central Vietnam suffered extensively from exposure to the chemical Dioxin, a dangerous compound contained in the Agent Orange defoliant. As a result of this environmental contamination, more than 10% of the children born in some areas of Vietnam today suffer from congenital mental or physical disabilities at birth. The physical disabilities mainly manifest themselves in the form of impaired limbs. With a budget of USD 70,000, the Foundation has sponsored corrective orthopedic surgery for 173 children in the Quang Tri Province – the country’s most adversely impacted province. The operations were successful in greatly enhancing the young patients’ usage of their limbs.
All operations were performed at the Da Nang Orthopedics Hospital between 2007 and the beginning of 2008, with many of the patients now enjoying a new and better life. The Foundation plans to sponsor more operations in the future.