U.S. Announces Support for Bach Mai Hospital to Improve Stroke Care in Vietnam
HANOI – Today, the United States Mission to Vietnam, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), announced training and technical support for Bach Mai Hospital Stroke Center to improve stroke care in Vietnam and the Mekong sub-region. The announcement affirms U.S. support for strengthening health cooperation and assisting Vietnam’s critical medical facilities under the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
USAID’s Mission Director in Vietnam Aler Grubbs observed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Bach Mai Hospital and USAID implementing partner Federation Handicap International on enhancing Bach Mai Hospital’s leadership as a national and Mekong sub-regional Center of Excellence for stroke care, with support from the United States, through USAID. The MOU, signed by Bach Mai Hospital Director, Associate Professor Dao Xuan Co and Federation Handicap International Country Manager Mazedul Haque, will strengthen the care for persons with stroke at the Bach Mai Stroke Center.
Vietnam is among the countries with the highest incidence rate of stroke, with about 200,000 stroke persons yearly. Stroke is the second most common cause of death in the country. Among survivors, this condition leaves a high rate of disability behind.
“We are pleased to continue the partnership with Bach Mai Hospital through its Stroke and Rehabilitation Centers” said USAID Mission Director Grubbs. “We look forward to helping Vietnam expand the application of international best practices in saving lives and reducing disabilities among stroke victims.”
Under this MOU, in the next two years, the USAID implementing partner will work with Bach Mai Hospital to build a specialized workforce through supporting postgraduate training specializing in stroke and cerebrovascular disease for doctors; strengthen the delivery of multidisciplinary services for patients with specific attention to ensuring a continuum of care throughout the care pathway; foster coordination, sharing of good practices and technical support through national and international networks; and build research capacities of the Stroke Center and the Rehabilitation Center of Bach Mai Hospital.
The United States Mission to Vietnam, through USAID, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has been a partner with Bach Mai Hospital for over 30 years as it has become one of the leading institutions in rehabilitation in Vietnam. Last year, USAID Administrator Samantha Power visited Bach Mai hospital and in 2022 the United States provided a new liquid oxygen system, the largest of 13 such systems provided by the United States to health care facilities across Vietnam, to support the care of patients with severe cases of COVID-19 and beyond.