Vietnam Ponseti Training with POF and PIA
The following report on Ponseti training in Vietnam was sent to us by Jessica Dyer:
‘Prosthetics Outreach Foundation Program Officer, Jessica Dyer, recently returned from the Vietnam Clubfoot Program Training jointly supported by POF and Ponseti International Association; the training was held on November 17th-19th.
Vietnam Ponseti for clubfoot training
The two clinical trainers were Dr. Morcuende, Chief Medical Director of the Ponseti International Association, and Dr. Huynh Manh Nhi from the Hospital for Trauma and Orthopeadics in Ho Chi Minh City. Along with these two reputable Ponseti method trainers, representatives from the Vietnam Ministry of Health, the Vietnam Pediatric Orthopedic Society as well as representatives from 16 government hospitals attended this seminar. There were several aspects to the training:
- the first day was focused on advanced techniques of Ponseti clubfoot management
- the second day was focused on intermediate techniques of Ponseti clubfoot management
- the third day was focused on a management meeting with the Vietnamese steering committee and the Ministry of Health.
There was a total of 28 trainees in attendance who have gained more skills to effectively treat children with clubfoot throughout Vietnam.
Demonstrating the Ponseti technique, Vietnam
POF will continue to support this nationwide treatment initiative by offering supplemental clinical training, program evaluation, and assistance with the promotion of the program within the healthcare system and to the public to increase the number of children reached by the program.
Baby with clubfoot attends for assessment
The program is gaining momentum throughout Vietnam with many local stakeholders engaged and excited about Ponseti!’
Vietnam National Clubfoot Programme website launched
The Vietnam National Clubfoot Programme, in partnership with Prosthetics Outreach Foundation has launched a website to highlight their work and provide information and resources, including materials in Vietnamese.
The main features of vnclubfoot.com are:
• General information about clubfoot and the Ponseti method of clubfoot management
• Clinic locations throughout Vietnam
• Patient success stories
• News featuring information relevant to the clubfoot community in Vietnam such as upcoming trainings
• Free resources available for download such as:
o Clinic poster (Vietnamese language)
o A brochure and booklet with information for parents of children born with congenital clubfoot (Vietnamese language)
o Global Help Ponseti manual in Vietnamese for clinicians in the field.
See the website here: http://www.vnclubfoot.org/.
The combination of the resource materials in Vietnamese language and information about clubfoot that’s provided on the site creates a very strong resource for clinicians and parents in Vietnam.
GCI also has a page with information about clubfoot in Vietnam here: http://globalclubfoot.org/countries/vietnam/. If you would like to provide information on a clubfoot programme in a low-resource setting for GCI to post online please contact us using the contact form: http://globalclubfoot.org/get-involved/.
The Vietnam Clubfoot Program is an alliance of Vietnam based clubfoot clinics supported by Prosthetics Outreach Foundation and the Vietnam Ministry of Health. Each clinic is dedicated to helping children throughout Vietnam to receive the Ponseti Method of clubfoot management to prevent lifelong disability. The program focuses on the training of clinical teams, evaluation of clinical team performance, community sensitization and the leveraging of resources through strategic partnership.
Vietnam Country Information now online
Our new page with information about the Vietnam National Clubfoot Programme is now online. The link to the page, with information about the programme and Ponseti treatment for babies with clubfoot in Vietnam is here: http://globalclubfoot.org/countries/vietnam/.
Many thanks to Prosethetics Outreach Foundation for supplying the information and beautiful pictures.
Baby in Ponseti casts, Vietnam
