Comprehensive care and high quality surgery are the basis of the cleft work at the Odonto-Maxillo-Facial Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. We started the cooperation with the Odonto-Maxillo-Facial Hospital in 2016 as partner of the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation (NCF) from Taiwan. More than 200 cleft surgeries are performed every year, as well as nasoalveolar molding (NAM), orthodontic treatments, and speech therapy. NCF and Deutsche Cleft Kinderhilfe both have similar principles when it comes to the development of interdisciplinary treatment for cleft children. Within the framework of this project we are also training Vietnamese specialists in Taiwan.

The project in Ho Chi Minh City (South Vietnam) perfectly complements our cooperation with the Vietnamese society OSCA, which is based in Hanoi (North Vietnam). We have been cooperating with OSCA since 2009 and so far have managed to successfully operate on more than 2,500 children. Our emphasis lies on the help for cleft children from the very poor regions of the country, who receive surgical and medical treatment in Hanoi.

Help for those most in need

A large number of our patients are from ethnic minorities who often lead a very reclusive life. In Vietnam some 10 million people belong to the officially recognized ethnic minorities. On top of that, the rate of children born with cleft deformations is especially high in Vietnam. This is in part a result of the widespread dioxin contamination, a legacy from the Vietnam War. The treatment of cleft children by foreign surgeons has a long tradition. But local, sustainable structures than would enable a long-term and comprehensive care of the patients have until now rarely been established. That is precisely what we want to change!

Join the effort!

Please join us and support our and our partners' effort to further improve and expand the treatment we are able to offer to needy patients in Vietnam. The Cleft Group is one of the main international organizations promoting and delivering comprehensive cleft care there. Cleft children need long-term support. Thus we are looking for long-term sponsorships to take decisive steps forward. If you are interested please contact us!