Who We Are
The efforts of this organization were begun in April, 2000 when Larry Hammer, M.C.D., a Speech - Language Pathologist with 20 years experience in laryngectomy rehabilitation ventured to Viet Nam on a fact finding mission.
Assisted by American and Vietnamese physicians, Mr. Hammer visited major hospitals and surgery centers in Hanoi and Da Nang. There he learned there were essentially no rehabilitation services available to Laryngectomees. He also discovered that the knowledge level among physicians and administrators related to laryngectomee rehabilitation techniques and procedures were seriously limited. In these hospitals he met Laryngectomees who had recently had their surgeries and those that were several years previous. None had been educated to the alternatives for communication prior to or following their surgery. They completely relied on hand gestures and for those that were literate, writing.
Mr. Hammer provided education and hands on training to physicians, hospital administrators, health care workers, and Laryngectomees. He demonstrated use of electrolaryngeal devices, of esophageal speech, and discussed the tracheoesphageal prosthetic devices.
Vietnamese physicians, health care workers, and hospital administrators were eager to acquire the knowledge and skills to provide quality alternative rehabilitation choices to the Laryngectomee. However, they are significantly limited by the availability of financial resources. Viet Nam is an economically poor and only recently developing country
It is the goal of Viet Nam - Laryngectomee Humanitarian Project to:
- Acquire, through donations and purchase, used and new equipment to be provided directly to Laryngectomees: e.g. electrolaryngeal devices, intraoral devices, and tracheoesophageal prosthesis;
- Provide education and training to physicians, health care workers, and Laryngectomees related to rehabilitative techniques and alternatives for communication.
A schedule is under development that will allow Mr. Hammer to return to Viet Nam two to four times a year to develop and move these efforts forward and distribute the acquired equipment.
