Q1. What is Medical Aid for Vietnam project? It’s a voluntary and charitable medical mission organized once or twice a year by the Medical Aid for Vietnam. The project has been operated since 1994 and our volunteers comprised of medical doctors, dentists, ophthalmologists, optometrists, pharmacists, clergy, professionals and volunteers from various fields and all walks of life.
Q2. How does our Medical Aid for Vietnam project operate?
Every year, we set dates for the Medial Aid for Vietnam mission. We also organized various fundraising dinners in Vancouver, Calgary, and Chicago. 100% of the fundraising money goes directly to the medical services of the people. We also fundraise by other means and accept donations of medical equipments, supplies and medicines. We constantly gather a team of volunteers. Depending on number of volunteers, our Mission usually divides into 2 or 3 teams. Each team is led by a Team Leader who speaks English and the local language (Vietnamese). Our team members are a mixture of all fields.
Q3. What do we do during our Medical Aid for Vietnam project?
We come from all over the places and gather in Saigon. We then travel to outreach sites. At each site, we utilize whatever space the local people arrange for us to use and conduct our medical services there. Our medical services include medical, dental, vision and pharmaceutical cares. We also collaborate with local hospitals to conduct cataract surgeries and carry out other medical aid services. We donate medical equipments and supplies to local clinics. We sponsor certain cases of ailments and pay for their hospital treatments. Sponsoring poor children to undergo heart surgeries is one of our primaries. Our purpose is to bring “hospital” to the people, so we would attempt our best to heal the people at their own towns.
Q4. How do we decide where to hold our outreach clinics?
We decided where or which villages to hold our outreach medical clinics as we plan our mission every year. Some sites were “selected” by our Coordinating Team; others were by referrals or by invitation. In the past years, we have utilized various hospitals, clinics, schools, convents, churches, orphanages or public facilities as our outreach medical sites. Most often, these sites are in rural areas.
Q5. Where have we conducted outreach clinics in Vietnam?
We have walked many villages and conducted our medical aid missions in provinces throughout Vietnam: Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An, Vinh, Diễn Châu, Thanh Hoa, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Hoa Hung, Ha Tay, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Can Tho, Vinh Long, Long Xuyen, Buonmethuot, Rach Gia, Cu Lao Gieng, Long Xuyen, Da Lat, Lam Dong, Pleiku, Kontum, the mountain areas, and so on…
Q6. Who can volunteer in our Medical Aid for Vietnam project?
We welcome almost everyone who wants to join our team. A true desire to serve the poor and help the sick people is absolutely essential. We can accommodate any specialty through our relationships with the universities and hospitals in Vietnam. Flexibility is also a must because our project could be changed at the last minutes due to local conditions or circumstances. If you are under 18, you’ll need a parental consent and have a team member who knows you and is willing to function as your guardian during and throughout the mission.
Q 7. I am not in medical field nor have any medical background, can I volunteer and what can I do?
Our medical aid project involves many aspects and there are tremendous medical and non-medical works needed to be done. As a non-medical team member, you can help in many ways: You can help distributing medicines and gifts; you can help interpreting if you speak the language; you can help in dentistry, vision work, or in aiding a medical personnel; you can help crowd controlling or aiding a patient in and out of the clinic; you can help sanitizing equipments or sorting out medicines. In general, you’ll be always busy with more things to do.
Q8. Do I need to contribute anything when volunteering for the Medical Aid for Vietnam?
Each volunteer/person will pay his/her own way to Vietnam. Airfare cost varies depending on your departure location. Also, each person will also contribute $1,200USD/CAN (one thousand two hundred) into our in-country expense fund. This fund will be used for the operation of our whole mission. It will pay for travel (airfares, taxis, buses, ferries, etc.) within the country, lodging, meals and drinks, communication, side-trips and tours, and fun times. It will pay for almost all your two-week mission, except your personal and in-room hotel expenses. It also contributes to paying for some local Vietnamese volunteers who join and assist our teams during the mission. Each person may also be asked to help bringing a case of medical supply on his/her flight to Vietnam.
Q9. Are my contributions to Medical Aid for Vietnam project tax-deductible?
Yes, all of your contributions (airfare cost and in-country expenses) are tax-deductible. Currently, we have two separate system for people from Canada and people from the U.S. Once you join the team, we will instruct you as how you to send your contributions.
Q10. How would I join and prepare for the Medical Aid for Vietnam mission?
You will need to fill out anApplication Form. We will then send you a General Tentative Schedule and a Preparation Guide a few weeks prior to the trip so you would have adequate time to prepare. If you are a medical professional, you must send/fax/email us a copy of your medical license(s) and also bring a copy (or copies) with you to the mission. Without the license, you may not be permitted to function as a medical professional, and consequently, cannot render your best capacity.