Pediatric Surgery Team- MEET-UK 2019
It was a different year for MEET with the Pediatric Surgery Team (PSD) traveling to Vietnam in October, and the US trip scheduled for December to attend the CTUMP Anniversary Celebration and Conference, unlike in years past when we enjoyed our travels together.
There were a few US participants, Nancy Chee, MD, Hubert Vesselle, MD and David Chan, also joined the PSD, as they have in in years past. The PSD was a necessarily large group, selected for their knowledge and talent to support surgical efforts, with many returning professionals, and some new faces on the team as well.
The group consists of Nurses, from a variety of specialty areas, Anesthesiologists, Surgeons, Therapists, and technology support. The team has been serving the children and their families in the Mekong Delta for 10 years now. The children who would otherwise be unable to afford these necessary surgeries are screened prior to the arrival of the team, and again in clinic by MEET’s team, to ensure positive outcomes are maximized. The team additionally maintains an educational exchange with CTUMP students and staff at the CTUMP Hospital.
Jacqui Fox Murphy, MD, the CEO of MEET-UK, lead the PSD. As is typically the case, the week is busy the day following their arrival in Can Tho. After 10 years they have schedules, relationships with CTUMP, and systems in place to move forward immediately. There are hundreds of children whose families hope to receive care, some travel for days, and some have tried in years past to be on the surgery list. Unfortunately, given the limited time of this specialty team, not all children can be seen. Follow-up care is vital, so having the child stabilized prior to leaving is an important consideration. Surgical risks, such as respiratory infections or fevers will also mean the timing is not appropriate for a child to receive a safe surgery.
The 2019 team was able to operate on 48 children, with no complications, resulting in joyful families and practitioners, new learning for medical students, several who provide translation for the team, and a satisfying experience for all involved.
MEET and MEET-UK both plan to schedule the 2020 Fall trip in October. It is always rewarding for the Volunteers who participate from each country to be able to see one another, enjoy and share our experiences in Vietnam.
