From Vietnam: The First Ever, In-Country Comprehensive Nationwide Burn Prevention Program
On Tuesday in Hanoi, Le Huu Trac National Institute of Burns (NIB) and The Asia Foundation launched a one-year project worth over US$125,000 to reduce the number of burn accidents in Vietnam through effective prevention education and development of improved skills for local care givers. Annually, it is estimated that between 15,000 – 16,000 people are severely burned nationwide caused by a range of accidents such as hot water, hot food, flames from petrol or electric sparks, and chemicals.
According to the Vietnam National Committee for Injury and Accident Prevention and the Administration of Preventive Medicine, the number of burn injuries in the country ranks second only after traffic accidents. Every year, the National Institute of Burns admits as many as 4,000 patients for burn treatment. Sadly, the most severe cases, about 30% of the patients they treat, result in death. The NIB reports that children account for at least 50% of the total number of burn victims, of whom half are under the age of 5 years old. More than 70% of burn victims are located in rural and mountainous areas, 80% of burn victims come from poor and low-income families, and 70% of burn cases worsen during transfer to the provincial and central hospitals because families and local practitioners do not know how to administer first aid to burn victims, or apply appropriate necessary curatives during the transportation of burn patients.
Using a comprehensive approach designed to raise community and citizen awareness of prevention while providing local health workers with training to enhance their treatment skills, the NIB, with support from The Asia Foundation, will partner with local and pediatric hospitals in the North, Central, and Southern regions to conduct need assessment, develop educational and training materials on prevention and treatment for local educators and health workers, organize workshops for local educators and health workers, implement nationwide awareness campaigns through local and national media, and support hotlines for burn accidents.
With funding support from the AIG Disaster Relief Fund and Give2Asia, the project will be implemented throughout the country with particular focus on provinces that have a high rate of burn accidents. The nationwide rate of burn accidents effects families, communities, and businesses alike. In October 2002 a fire at the International Trade Center in downtown Ho Chi Minh City injured and killed hundreds of people including 24 AIG employees.
