A Clear and Focused Purpose

Focused on the honor of Christ, Ophthalmologist Dr. David Neima has co-led the EMAS Canada Vietnam team for thirty years.

Assisted locally by Fr. Tien Tran and Paul Nguyen in the USA, and others from the Catholic and Protestant communities this team runs programs in partnership with national doctors who do most of the clinical work in local hospitals and during medical camps.

Since 1995, the team’s priority has been eye care and serving the needs of children with congenital heart conditions.

National doctors have been assisted with training to improve cataract surgery skills and serve in centres using equipment supplied by the team; close to 2,000 children with congenital heart disease have undergone successful corrective surgery in Vietnam through the team’s sponsorship program. An estimated 9,000 cataract operations have been performed by the team and local surgeons. About 50,000 pairs of glasses have been measured and donated.

We estimate that the team delivers services valued at $250,000 annually.

How have they have done it?

Every mission the team go on, has been purposefully prepared for maximum usefulness.

Like other EMAS teams, careful volunteer selection for skills relevant to team goals is practiced consistently.

Having narrowed focus on ophthalmology and children with congenital heart diseases, every mission has aimed utility at these clearly defined priorities without neglecting opportunities for service, such as dentistry.

Investment in passing on surgical skills sustains the impact of the team long after the visiting volunteers have left; the long-term commitment to partners in Vietnam has built trusted relationships so every dollar dedicated to heart surgery serves pre-selected and assigned patients.

Unlike athletes sparring with imaginary opponents, simulations, or mirrors to perfect performance, Dr Neima and his team spend their lives on the actual frontline treating and training. They represent Christ among Vietnamese patients and physicians achieving commendable results through perseverance against the challenges of serving cross-culturally often at heavy personal cost.

Join the team as they celebrate the 30^th anniversary by donating:

• $500 funds one cataract surgery
• $500 covers one-fifth of the cost of a heart surgery for one child
• $2500 covers the entire cost of a heart surgery for one child