On the afternoon of November 5th, Vietnam National Children’s Hospital had the honor of welcoming Ms.Deirdre Ní Fhallúin, Ambassador of Ireland to Vietnam, along with a delegation from FHI360, Alive & Thrive, and representatives from Lao Friends Hospital for Children. The visit aimed to share experiences in equipment management and Human Milk Bank with the goal of ensuring optimal nutrition and health care for children.
Assoc.Prof. Tran Minh Dien, Director of Vietnam National Children’s Hospital, warmly welcomed the delegation, expressing his honor and deep gratitude to Ambassador Deirdre Ní Fhallúin, FHI360, Alive & Thrive, and colleagues from Lao Friends Hospital for Children for their visit.
Assoc.Prof. Tran Minh Dien also introduced the hospital’s functions, duties, and achievements in medical examination and treatment, including strengths in liver, kidney, and stem cell transplants, as well as cardiac and neurological surgeries.
“The establishment of Human Milk Bank is a prime example of the effectiveness of the hospital’s international cooperation activities. Human Milk Bank has operated smoothly based on the technical support and equipment of Alive & Thrive and Newborns Vietnam, which has enabled us to supply pasteurized donor milk to pediatric patients at the hospital and in the Hanoi area. Notably, during Typhoon Yagi in September, we promptly supported Human Milk Bank of Quang Ninh Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital with pasteurized milk to ensure child nutrition amidst the storm’s destruction. Vietnam National Children’s Hospital stands ready to collaborate with the Government of Ireland and Alive & Thrive to transfer technology, facilitate visits, and training for the establishment of Human Milk Banks in other regions in Vietnam and neighboring countries like Laos and Cambodia,” shared Assoc.Prof. Tran Minh Dien.
Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Hang, Head of International Cooperation Department, presented the process and results after more than two years of Human Milk Bank’s official operations at Vietnam National Children’s Hospital.
Ambassador Deirdre Ní Fhallúin expressed her appreciation for the warm reception and emphasized Ireland’s commitment to supporting Human Milk Bank project and Vietnam through the global ODA development assistance program, aiming to alleviate hunger, improve nutrition, and enhance health cooperation and knowledge exchange between the two countries. In Southeast Asia, Ireland, in collaboration with Alive & Thrive in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, is committed to providing technical support to strengthen and expand the benefits of breastfeeding. This working session is regarded as a significant milestone in this cooperative effort.
The Ambassador also congratulated the hospital on the successful establishment and efficient operation of Hanoi’s first Human Milk Bank and praised its achievements in child health care. She expressed pride in the Irish Embassy’s sponsorship of modern equipment for Vietnam National Children’s Hospital Human Milk Bank.
Ambassador Deirdre Ní Fhallúin expressed hope for positive outcomes from this working session.
Ms. Vu Hoang Duong, Vietnam Program Manager of Alive & Thrive East Asia Pacific/FHI360, shared insights on collaboration activities with Human Milk Bank at the hospital.
During the program, the delegation visited Human Milk Bank and Kangaroo Intensive Care Unit at Neonatal Care Center, Vietnam National Children’s Hospital.
This visit by the Irish Ambassador and FHI360 and Alive & Thrive delegation, along with representatives from Lao Friends Hospital for Children, reaffirms the strong relationship in healthcare among the parties, promising fruitful and effective future cooperation.
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Vietnam National Children’s Hospital’s Human Milk Bank was established in March 2022, marking Hanoi’s first such bank. Over two years of operation, it has collected and processed approximately 350-400 liters of donated breast milk each month, providing nutrition for thousands of newborn patients at the hospital. The effectiveness of Human Milk Bank has been demonstrated through significant improvements in the care and nourishment of infants with medical conditions, particularly premature and low-birth-weight babies. |
