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Vietnam
Huynh Tan Nghia
Nghia is 18 years old and lives with his mother and stepfather in Ward 1,
District 8 of Ho Chi Minh City. Like many in District 8, his family is poor.
When Nghia was three, he developed a high fever. His parents took him
to a hospital and the doctor diagnosed that he had contracted polio.
He lost the mobility of both his legs and learned to walk with his hands.
For many years, his parents took him to various hospitals and clinics for
physical therapy, radiotherapy, acupuncture and traditional medicine,
hoping to restore the mobility of his legs. If they had any money, they
took him for treatments. But none worked with polio, and the parents
ended up spending considerable money for these services.
When Nghia was 12, he started going to school. However, he was often
made fun of and pushed by other students. Nghia says he was humiliated
and felt resentment towards his classmates and teachers.
He also says the teachers did not want him in school, considering him a
troublemaker because his presence in the classroom would distract other
students from focusing on study. Even so, he persevered for almost two
years before he finally decided to leave school. He became withdrawn.
When the community-based rehabilitation (CBR) project started in his
district, Nghia was provided with a long-distance wheelchair by the
project. Volunteer CBR workers often visited and encouraged him to go
out. No longer having to walk with his hands in public, he started to feel
more comfortable going out and mixing with others. These days he is
often seen in the community, taking a walk in his wheelchair. He has
made friends. He is also able to go shopping for his mother. Nghia says
he is very happy now and no longer feels ashamed of himself.
Few buildings are designed for wheelchair access, however, so Nghia was
also taken to the Ho Chi Minh City Paediatric Rehabilitation and
Orthopaedic Centre to make a set of splints, which enable him to walk
with his legs, aided by crutches. The photo shows him standing up, on
the same level as others, for the first time since he contracted polio at age
3. His facial expression shows emotions of victory and determination.
With project staff recommendation and encouragement from a volunteer
CBR worker, he started to go three nights a week to a night school
where many poor children study basic mathematics, reading and writing.
And because of his talent in repairing machines, he started attending a
vocational training school during the day to become a motorcycle
mechanic. He graduated in 2002 and is now financially independent.
Photos: World Vision Vietnam
Nghia and his parents thank the people who helped and kept encouraging
him. His mother said, "Nghia always stayed at home before, except
when he went to the hospital or clinics. The only thing I hoped for my
son was to be healthy and independent. Because he only has sisters, after
we [the parents] die, he needs to take care of himself. Now I know this is
possible. His life has changed completely.
Thank you."
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