Vietnam 2009
In 2009, Dr. Tran travelled back to Vietnam to identify possible opportunities to collaborate in order to help disabled Vietnamese.
Four years had passed since I last visited Vietnam in 2005 before I went back to Boston to resume my medical training. After grasping the medical knowledge to manage patients' disabilities, I realized that other factors can have profound impact for the disabled community. Governmental policies can play a vital role to help decrease medical disabilities. In 2005, Vietnam did not have laws that required motorcyclists to wear helmets. By 2009, Vietnam had laws that required all motorcyclists to wear helmets. This governmental legislation lead to a significant reduction in traumatic brain injury due to motorcycle accidents.
The Vietnamese government also supported initiatives that led to increase funding for the creation of more rehabilitation centers for the country. Disabled Vietnamese now have more access to medical care because of their government's increase awareness of the need to rehabilitate those who are disabled. These policies are great examples of a top down approach where governmental intervention can have positive effects for the disabled community.
Hospital Visit 2009 (13 images) |
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