Retinopathy of Prematurity Project aids premature infants and their families in Vietnam

By Frank Ramirez

With the proper therapies, and in some cases surgeries and other medical intervention, infants born prematurely have every chance of growing up to their full potential. But in places like Vietnam, premature infants born in rural areas may have no access to top-flight medical care.

Some families of premature infants face steep economic barriers, for the surgeries and therapies required may be extraordinarily expensive for most Vietnamese. For others it is simply a matter of their parents not knowing that help is available.

Doan Ngoc Doan Thanh, project manager, along with social worker Tran Nhi, are associated with the Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Project at the Nhi Dong 1 Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. They are attending Annual Conference along with Grace Mishler, former Church of the Brethren mission worker who supported the project when she lived and worked in Vietnam and who continues to offer strong support. Church of the Brethren members also have given significant financial support.

Retinopathy of Prematurity

One of the most treatable and preventable conditions is Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). Infants under 1,000 grams in weight and 37 seven weeks prematurity, who often are kept alive with pure oxygen, can go blind or develop impaired vision as a result of their life-saving therapies. The project staff work hard to remove physical, economic, and psychological barriers that prevent mothers from seeking or following through with life-saving therapies.

“Our work is preventing blindness among the people,” said Doan. She works closely with the hospital so family can be present during surgeries and treatments.

ROP can cause permanent blindness. “Many Vietnamese never know there are treatments,” said Doan, “They see something strange in a baby’s eyes but don’t act until it is too late. Maybe [the baby is] already damaged, and will go blind.”

In addition, the Vitrectomy surgery costs more than $7,000. “This surgery cannot be delayed or the baby will go blind,” but “the family doesn’t have that kind of money. Church of the Brethren Global Missions can make that money available.”

Some of the surgeries are so specialized that “no Vietnamese doctor can do that,” Doan said. Thanks to the support of donors, the hospital can maintain the clean equipment necessary to improve lives.

In some cases, there is simply no time or money for premature infants to come to the hospital or receive treatment. Tran Nhi works with mothers to help them learn how to care for their infant. “I have worked several years in the hospital,” Tran said. “The mothers need to understand how to use the eyedrops.” Information is vital for parents. “I give them my phone number so they can ask me more questions after they leave the hospital…. Some mother say they need no help. ‘I can take care of him all my life.’ How about after? I ask them.”

She admitted, “I cry a lot when I first meet the infants.” Some of them weigh as little as 430 grams (a little under a pound). “It can be difficult when some of them need help and there is no more medicine.”

Doan talked about supporting the families to do the paperwork, and also to apply for assistance from the global partners of the ROP Project, like the Church of the Brethren Global Mission.

Seated with them was Grace Mishler of Goshen, Ind., who herself is vision impaired. She has dedicated much of her life to educating Vietnamese about the importance of working with children who are handicapped. There had been a long tradition of writing such children off. During her 17 years of service she did much to educate and help eliminate the formerly harsh attitude toward those with disabilities. “Thanks to the Church of the Brethren,” Mishler said, “we got programs like this going.”

Those interested in helping to financially support the ROP Project may make checks payable to COB Global Mission, writing “Vietnam EYE Project” on the memo line. Mail to Global Mission Office, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Avenue, Elgin, IL 60120.

— Frank Ramirez is a member of the Annual Conference Press Team.

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