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D.O.V.E. Fund and the
Vietnam Health Project

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Medical
student checking the vital signs of a young patient
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For the second
time in two years, medical students from the University of Wisconsin
and the University of Minnesota have partnered with the D.O.V.E. Fund
to help the people of Hai An. Lying against the South
China Sea in Quang Tri province, the
village of Hai An is populated by families
who make their living off the variety of sea life along the
coastline. Along with fishing, residents can be seen digging for
clams and oysters, trapping crab and netting shrimp. The work is hard
and the income is very low and for many, health care is a luxury
very few can afford. In the past, if a medical emergency occurred, valuable time was lost finding
a critical care center which further endangered the patient.
Several years
ago, thanks to the help of generous donors, the D.O.V.E. Fund built a
modern two story building with facilities and capabilities to enhance
the lives of the people of Hai An. Now with
a
small staff, the clinic can provide basic medical care, health
information and treatment for many common illnesses in Vietnam.
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Many
children are receiving medical check-ups for the first time
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Vietnam Health Project
Recently, the
Vietnam Health Project (VHP), a group of medical students from the
Universities of Wisconsin and Minnesota, traveled again to Vietnam to
conduct a medical mission to bring better care and educational
workshops to the people of Hai An. During the ten days spent at the
clinic, the VHP team saw over 750 patients, many of
whom were seeing a doctor for the first time. The most
prevalent issues were chronic back and muscle pain, joint stiffness
and dehydration. Many also suffered from headaches, hypertension and
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder). Most of the patients
received treatment for many of their issues,
however, more resources are needed. Many older people were dealing
with cataracts due to time spent in the direct
sunlight
and needed corrective surgery from an ophthalmologist.
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Educational Workshops

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Children
from the village of Hai An listen to the doctor during one of the
educational sessions
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In addition, the
VHP group conducted educational workshops highlighted preventive care
and the benefits of exercise, physical therapy and human anatomy.
With a special emphasis on the children, VHP focused on basic
hygiene, avoiding infections, physiology and emergency first
aid. Each lesson lasted four hours and included both a Vietnamese and
English learning component in order to understand the issues in both
languages. VHP donated close to $5,000 in medicine and supplies
during their trip and look forward to a return trip. The
community was friendly and supportive of VHP's trip and they will be
welcomed back next year.
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D.O.V.E. Fund Dinner
Auction
Don't forget about our annual dinner auction next
week. There is still time for you and your friends
to join us at our annual fund raiser. We'll have a silent auction
featuring a wide variety of items from jewelry to wine, clothing,
restaurant gift certificates, items from Vietnam and much more.
Our live auction will feature tickets to big time sporting
events, a trip to Africa, a week's stay at resort condos, massage
packages, fishing trips and more. We'll be at the Pinnacle in Maumee
with cocktails at 6:00 pm and dinner at 7:00 pm. For more info on how
to be part of the fun, call Dan Gregg at 734-663-6518.
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The D.O.V.E. Fund
The D.O.V.E. Fund, an Ohio based
non-profit 501(c)3 corporation, is committed to helping the people of
Vietnam through a wide range of humanitarian assistance. D.O.V.E. is
an acronym for the Development of Vietnam Endeavors. The group,
chartered in January, 2000, has raised over
$2.5 million dollars and has built more than 50 schools along
with medical clinics, water purification plants and
micro-finance projects throughout the country. They also
provide thousands of dollars in financial aid to impoverished but
deserving students through their "Young Doves" Scholarship
Program.
Those interested in making a tax
deductible contribution and learning more about the D.O.V.E.
Fund should log on to www.dovefund.org
Don't forget to visit us
at: www.dovefund.org Your comments are
welcome at info@dovefund.org
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P.O. Box 350741 Toledo, OH 43635
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