La chaîne de l'espoir

Founded in 1994, La Chaîne de l'Espoir is an international NGO with a mission to improve access to surgical care for vulnerable individuals, particularly children and women, in fragile or crisis contexts.

We contribute to strengthening healthcare systems through expertise in surgery and hospital engineering, with an integrated approach aimed at the autonomy of local teams. To achieve this, our volunteer doctors and healthcare professionals perform surgeries and provide training in techniques that are most suitable for the specific needs and contexts. We establish the necessary structural resources for surgery, including both material (hospital construction, equipment) and human resources (paramedical skills and techniques). Additionally, we invest in prevention and screening to reduce the demand for surgery.

We work closely in partnership with all healthcare stakeholders, including associations, hospitals, international institutions, local authorities, and businesses, to provide a coordinated response and ensure a lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable individuals.

Here are some key figures from La Chaîne de l'Espoir's actions in 2022:

• Over 170,000 beneficiaries of our programs.
• Over 10,000 patients underwent surgery.
• 70 medical missions and 56 coordination, exploratory, or technical missions.
• 880 staff members worldwide: 186 employees and 694 volunteers.

In Vietnam, regional disparities in healthcare services pose a barrier to access to health, especially for the rural population. It becomes challenging for families from the provinces when their children's medical conditions can only be treated in major city hospitals like Ho Chi Minh City, which offer a higher level of technical expertise. In addition to the cost of the surgery itself, families must also bear the expenses of travel and accommodation for the child and accompanying family members.

To address these needs, La Chaîne de l'Espoir, in collaboration with the Dominican Sisters, has decided to open a Children's Pavilion in Ho Chi Minh City. This facility has a capacity of 10 beds and caters to vulnerable children seeking medical examinations or surgical interventions.

A facility like the Children's Pavilion offers the following advantages:

• Comprehensive medical services: Located near high-quality hospital facilities, the Children's Pavilion provides medical and social support to children who can stay there with a family member.
• Social support: Sick children and their accompanying family members receive free medical care, transportation, and accommodation, with all expenses covered by La Chaîne de l'Espoir. The children and their families also receive assistance and social support to ensure a proper recovery once they return home.
• Learning opportunities: Educational and recreational activities, as well as workshops on health, hygiene, and nutrition, are organized within the Children's Pavilion.
• Economic efficiency: The operating costs of the Pavilion, as an accommodation facility, are six times lower than hospitalization expenses. The savings made can expand healthcare services to a larger number of individuals.

Opened in July 2018, the Children's Pavilion has welcomed over 200 children, including 137 who also received heart surgeries. In 2022, after the COVID-19 pandemic, the list of children in need has grown rapidly.

The waiting list is still long, and La Chaîne de l'Espoir has set a goal to operate on as many children as possible.

The average cost of a heart surgery is around €3,000 per child. Thanks to the solidarity bibs, the donations received will contribute to funding children's surgeries, their care within the Children's Pavilion, and the Pavilion's operating costs.

This allows a trail runner to directly contribute to helping a child with heart problems regain their health. "A healthy heart for a sick heart."

For one week, we supported our 13 solidarity runners. Beyond the remarkable sporting challenge, it is also an exceptional human adventure because these athletes, by representing La Chaîne de l'Espoir, enable 13 children with heart problems to undergo surgery in Vietnam.

Our website: www.chainedelespoir.org

Contact for solidarity bibs: Laurent BOULTE Email: lboulte@chainedelespoir.org Phone: +33 (0)6 49 32 86 27