Volunteers Give Care in Vietnam

Nine Project HOPE volunteers helped support the Pacific Air Force’s medical operation Pacific Angel (PACANGEL) in Vietnam this month. U.S. Air Force and Project HOPE health care practitioners, optometrists, pediatricians, nurse midwives and health conducted two community outreach programs.

Much of the talk from the volunteer medical professionals supporting the operation centers on how kind and respectful the Vietnamese people are in their interpersonal communications with Americans. It generally appears most patients simply wanted checkups but were too shy or nervous to admit it. “A big part of practicing medicine internationally in less medically developed countries is simply reassuring patients,” says HOPE volunteer Dr. Laurence Taylor. “Most people just want to know they’re healthy.”

A Vietnamese woman’s eyes got teary when Dr. Taylor gave her the simple reassurance her toddler was healthy. The Project HOPE team saw a wide variety of health diagnosis from dog bites, to third degree burns, to seizure patients.