Since April 2024, American International Hospital (AIH), in collaboration with Prof. René D. Esser—a renowned orthopedic surgeon—has launched a program offering free surgeries to children from disadvantaged backgrounds with complex musculoskeletal conditions. These include congenital clubfoot, ankle stiffness, quadriplegia, and wrist and hand tendon contraction deformities. The program aims to provide these children, especially from ethnic minority groups, access to advanced medical treatments, offering them the chance to begin a brighter, more confident life.
The opportunity to correct congenital deformities
For every child, being born healthy and growing up strong is a blessing. Unfortunately, some children who were born with congenital deformities and, due to their difficult circumstances, cannot experience the simple happiness of living without such challenges.
Eight-year-old H.T.L. from the Van Kieu ethnic group in Quang Tri and three-year-old N.Đ.D. from the Co Tu ethnic group in Quang Nam are examples of such cases. Both children have suffered from bilateral clubfoot since birth, facing immense difficulties in their daily lives and education. However, their families lacked the means for medical treatment.
What seemed like an impossible dream turned into reality after a few comments and photos shared on social media caught the attention of Prof. René D. Esser and AIH. They quickly approved free treatment for the children. From there, a challenging journey began—local volunteers helped encourage and assist the families in making the long trip to the hospital, where Prof. René D. Esser personally examined them and devised the best treatment plan.
Following his examinations at AIH, Prof. René D. Esser explained: “Both children suffer from severe congenital bilateral clubfoot. Early intervention for N.Đ.D. (aged three) is ideal. Delaying treatment would make future correction more difficult. For H.T.L. (aged eight), the case is more complex, as the child has severe bilateral clubfoot, a contracted left knee due to years of inactivity, and a leg-length discrepancy. Correcting these deformities will take time. It’s essential to treat congenital clubfoot as early as possible. After surgery, these children will need close monitoring and consistent physical therapy to achieve the best results.”
After the successful surgeries for H.T.L. and N.Đ.D., Prof. René D. Esser emphasized that many more ethnic minority children with congenital musculoskeletal deformities remain untreated due to financial hardships. These untreated conditions affect not only their mobility but also their mental well-being and future opportunities.
With compassion and a commitment to medical ethics, AIH and Prof. René D. Esser continue to collaborate with the “Ban thuong nhau” volunteer group, providing treatment for more children with complex musculoskeletal deformities.
At AIH, children receive direct consultations and treatments from Prof. René D. Esser. The hospital, along with Prof. Esser, covers all surgical costs and ensures ongoing follow-up care, including plaster changes and family guidance on physical therapy, to guarantee that the treatment process is comprehensive and effective.
Restoring normalcy for children
Prof. René D. Esser remarked: “Many children with untreated or improperly treated musculoskeletal deformities not only suffer from mobility impairments but also from psychological challenges as they grow older.”
The case of N.H.Q., a 17-year-old from the Co Tu ethnic group in Quang Nam, illustrates this. N.H.Q. had a severe clubfoot and a stiff right ankle, severely limiting his movement. From childhood, his boots were his “salvation,” rarely removing them, whether at home or school. As he grew older, his self-confidence dwindled, making him avoid exposing his deformity to anyone except his family.
Reflecting on the successful treatment of many disadvantaged children, Prof. René D. Esser emotionally shared: “For most people, being ‘normal’ might seem insignificant, but for those born with congenital deformities, regaining that sense of normalcy is extraordinary—especially for disadvantaged ethnic minority children. I am incredibly proud to accompany them on this meaningful journey.” This message encapsulates AIH’s goal of spreading hope through its program of free surgeries for underprivileged children with congenital musculoskeletal deformities, helping them embark on a better future.
Ongoing support for disadvantaged children
Seeing the smiles and hopeful expressions of the children and their families after successful treatments, AIH and Prof. René D. Esser are confident that with modern medical advances and the compassionate hearts of AIH’s medical team, new hope can be given to children born with congenital deformities, enabling them to lead brighter, more confident lives.
In the near future, AIH’s orthopedic department will continue to support disadvantaged children, particularly those from remote areas with limited access to advanced healthcare. These efforts aim to extend quality medical services and spread positive values throughout the community.
A commitment to healthcare and social responsibility
AIH has been operational since 2018, and over six years of service, it has become a trusted healthcare provider for hundreds of thousands of customers, patients, and their families. In November 2022, AIH achieved JCI accreditation for global healthcare quality.
In addition to providing free surgeries for disadvantaged children, AIH has organized various social activities to support those in need. These include hosting a charity food stall for the AIH Foundation, an annual blood donation drive, and the “Old for New” campaign, which involves exchanging and donating old clothes to promote sustainable consumption and environmental protection. The hospital has also provided medical check-ups, medications, and gifts to people in need in Le Chanh Commune, An Giang Province.
AIH also partnered with the Vietnam Children’s Protection Fund in the “Supporting Premature Babies in Vietnam” campaign, which aims to raise community awareness and provide life-saving opportunities for premature infants. Through this initiative, AIH donated VND1 million from the revenue of each birth delivered between October 24, 2022, and February 28, 2023, raising a total of VND500 million for the Vietnam Children’s Protection Fund to support training, health education, and improved care for premature babies.
