Volunteer doctors are giving free health checkups and surgery to 160 children with disabilities from poor ethnic minority families in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang from June 18-24.

The voluntary programme, under the auspices of the Dutch Child Care Centre 2, is aimed at improving local medical competence and also aiding disabled children. Children will receive support for travel and food expenses.

The 168 beneficiaries aged between 8 and 12 months old suffer from cleft lip and palate conditions, visual impairments, and disabilities in urinary organs.

On the occasion, leaders of the Ha Giang People’s Committee and members of the Fund for Vietnamese Children presented gifts to the young patients.

Ha Giang is one of the provinces with the highest rate of disabled children in the country with most from ethnic minority groups living in remote and border crossing areas.-VNA