Nobody Knows Vietnam Like Us
What an experience for the teams involved in the Kon Tum charity trip in May 2006. Dr Rafi Kot and his team of
doctors, nurses and support staff traveled to Dak Rve District, Kon Tum to offer medical and dental care to the
local people of which 63% are minority people. Dr Kot worked closely with The Israeli Embassy and had the full
support of The Fatherland Front and the Peoples Committee of Kon Tum.
Without the generous support of companies and individuals the mission would not have been as successful. We
hope to offer this support on an annual basis as the benefit was enormous. A total of 2531 people were examined
and/or treated.
Here are a few words from our doctor:
Dr Rafi Kot
I am happy that we managed to treat a population which is objectively in need of health care. Unlike some other projects around Ho hi Minh City, where I believe their poverty stems from corruption, in Kon Tum the poverty stems from isolation, distance and a real lack of funds. We managed to touch a community which is usually closed to foreign visitors. I was asked to do this by the president of the Father Land Front of Vietnam. Finally Vietnam is treating us as one of them, in means of trust, track record and our social mission.
Dr Mark S
Anything that I could put into words about this experience would be an understatement. The land, the people and their way of life has touched me. It is only my sincere hope that my short service and time among the people of the Central Highlands has served them well.
Dr Ross
The trip started for me as just another working trip. Some of us left in the 12 four wheel drives and others flew to Danang where we all met up to discuss our trip and to meet the teams from our Hanoi and Danang Clinics. This was also our opportunity to meet the Israeli Ambassador and his staff. As we were pulling out road maps and some of us taking motion sickness medication, the enormity of the trip started to hit me. We all piled into the land cruisers and headed to our destination, Kon Tum, through rd 24. Our drive took us into the Vietnamese
jungle. We were bogged (many times), drove through rivers, over rocks, through mud and down roads that were not fit for cars. We saw water falls and jungle areas that were breath taking. There was rain, sunshine and cloud all within 10 minutes of each other.
By day 2 we had broken into 5 teams, and we then headed to our provinces. We were thrilled to be invited into the homes and lives of minority people that we had only heard about before. They were malnourished, dirty, wearing rags and as curious about us as we were them. We treated thousands of people suffering from all sorts of sicknesses and injury. We saw everything from TB to third degree burns. Dr Lara pulled out approximately 200 teeth from some very decayed mouths. Every one from our drivers, doctors, nurses and assistants worked together to give urgent medical assistance and deliver much needed food, clothing, toys etc. The people of Kon Tum were very dignified and grateful for every little thing we gave and did for them.
I can’t believe I thought that this would be just be another week at the office, it was truly life changing, priority shifting and an honour. We at Family Medical are truly the lucky ones, we were the first foreigners allowed in this area and we have been invited back, what an awesome experience. We truly do know Vietnam better than any one else.
Dr Jane Li
For me, as a doctor, I loved the fact that I was able to treat hundreds of needy people that otherwise would not have received medical treatment. It was interesting
for me to see how the Vietnamese people in this area live and to be able to help the minority people of the Central Highlands. This was very gratifying.
Dr Duc
The healthcare relief project in the Central Highlands added to the connection that I have with my mother country. I was born in Vietnam in 1974, left in 1975 to the USA. When I first came back for a holiday to Vietnam in 1997, hearing Vietnamese spoken, smelling the Vietnamese food, hearing the Vietnamese music and seeing the Vietnamese fashions, all made me feel like I was right at home, in a household made up of millions of Vietnamese people!
Now in 2006, after having lived in Vietnam for 2 years, the nostalgia has worn off a little but providing health care to the most needy and deserving peoples of Vietnam re-fuelled my passion for my native country. The financial backbone of Vietnam to this day remains with agriculture. The millions working to keep Vietnam viable get lost in the statistics. This project let me cut through the statistics, where I found the individuals who are the everyday, unsung heroes of Vietnam.
Dr Terry
I found I was forever reminding myself how lucky I am coming from a fabulous country like Australia. It was so hard to come to terms with the absolute need and sometimes desperation of the people of Kon Tum. But a smile was never far away. Being able to give was a rewarding experience both for us and the people of Kon Tum I am sure.
The FMP trip to Kon Tum would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the numerous supporters in HCMC. We wish to extend our thanks to all the companies and individuals who came forward with a great spirit and made our trip to Kon Tum an unforgetable experience. So a big thank you to:
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