General Motors Viet Nam’s Chevrolet brand is joining hands with Operation Smile Viet Nam to provide medical checkups and reconstructive surgery to some 50 children in Viet Nam. — VNS Photo
General Motors Viet Nam’s Chevrolet brand is joining hands with Operation Smile Viet Nam to provide medical checkups and reconstructive surgery to some 50 children in Viet Nam.
The surgery, for kids born with cleft lips, palates and other facial deformities, is being performed in Ha Noi by medical professionals from the Viet Nam-Cuba Friendship Hospital from November 20 to 24. Chevrolet is also providing transportation, meal allowances and accommodations for patients.
This is the fourth time that GM Viet Nam is joining hands with Operation Smile Viet Nam’s mission to bring smiles to more than 200 children with facial deformities from 2013.
“Chevrolet has made a commitment to serve and improve communities in which we live and work,” said GM Viet Nam Sales and Marketing General Director, Le Thanh Hai.
Approximately one in 700 children worldwide are born with a cleft lip, cleft palate or both, and every three minutes a child is born with these conditions. A large number of children from Viet Nam are impacted, while some 15,000 children nationwide are not treated.
Children born with a cleft lip or cleft palate have twice the odds of dying before their first birthday. They also suffer a multitude of medical problems, including chronic ear infections, malnutrition, respiratory ailments, dental problems and difficulties with speech development.
In as little as 45 minutes, a single surgery can change a child’s life forever.
“We have reached approximately 2,000 patients through 30 missions each year. Up to now, more than 40,000 life-changing surgeries have already been performed and we will not stop until we heal every child. With the support of GM Viet Nam and Chevrolet, we believe that we will make our dream a reality,” said Nguyen Thi Hai Duc, programme director of Operation Smile Viet Nam.
GM Viet Nam and Chevrolet are engaged in a broad range of social and charitable activities to benefit the local community. — VNS