On December 22, the firstday of the five-day programme, the doctors gave operations to 11 childpatients, including one with hematoma on the tongue.
The annual programme, which has been conducted in Ben Tre over the past20 years, also covers northern Quang Ninh and Ninh Binh provinces, andHo Chi Minh City . It is expected to reach the northern port city ofHai Phong soon.
Since April 1993, the JapaneseCleft Palate Foundation has conducted free surgery for over 1,300children with harelip and cleft palate in Ben Tre, while providing thelocality with 75,000 USD to build a new surgery centre at the NguyenDinh Chieu Hospital.-VNA