Vietnamese Doctors Assist in Pacific Partnership

Bismark Sea - August 24, 2007

Three Vietnamese doctors are participating in the Navy’s Pacific Partnership humanitarian-aid mission after having boarded USS Peleliu prior to the vessel’s departure from Da Nang, Vietnam, July 25.

The team, comprised of a cardiologist, a dentist and a general surgeon, will be assisting in the mission’s medical efforts through early September when Pacific Partnership concludes major aid efforts, according to Dr. Le Van Minh, the team cardiologist.

“In my point of view, it’s very good for us (Vietnam and the United States) and other countries around the world to cooperate with each other to help poor people and to solve problems,” Minh said of the mission. He added that the partnering between Vietnam and the United States to help those in need is “a good first step” and that he feels it will help both countries in the future.

Having the three doctors aboard Peleliu represents a first for both the continually-strengthening relationship between the United States and Vietnamese governments, as well as for the doctors, themselves.

“It’s the first time we’ve been on a big ship like this, so we have been able to socialize with many people from many countries (and) cultures,” said Minh. “It’s very interesting for us.”   

Thus far on the mission, the doctors have assisted in providing medical and dental care to patients throughout the Madang region of Papua New Guinea.  Minh noted that there are very few cases of heart disease within the indigenous population, which afforded him more time to focus on heart disease prevention, rather than treatment.    

Minh said that the highlight of his time ashore came when inclement weather forced the medical team to stay overnight, and the mission’s senior leadership put Minh and his counterparts up for the night at a local resort.

“It was a priority to help us, and that’s what I remember most,” Minh said. “(The U.S. Navy) is very kind to partnership nations.”