Professor, Doctor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong recounts the process of finding the connection between toxic chemicals and children with birth defects - Photo: TTD
Not only did she discover the truth about the devastation caused by Agent Orange/dioxin on human health, Professor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong (former director of Tu Du Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City) was also the one who laid the foundation for in vitro fertilization, the "mother" of the village midwife, and initiated the "Nurturing Happiness" program.
Finding the Link Between Birth Defects and Chemicals
Speaking to Tuoi Tre , Professor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong said she has devoted nearly her entire life to finding out the "terrible mystery" that has caused tragic consequences for victims affected by Agent Orange/dioxin in Vietnam.
Her journey to find the connection between toxic chemicals and the rate of birth defects began with the delivery of a baby with no skull at Tu Du Hospital. After that, every few shifts, she encountered a similar case of birth defect - something that was very rare before 1965.
After witnessing many times and being somewhat curious, she asked to keep the special disabled children, including many poor children who died right after birth.
In 1976, when American veterans returned to Vietnam and saw children with deformities at Tu Du Hospital, they wondered why and asked her to return to the hospital to hear the answer.
Professor, Doctor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong presented at the Ramon Magsaysay Award ceremony on November 16, 2024 at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila, Philippines - Photo: TTD
Following the documents she had read, she discovered something strange: the number of deformed and malformed children in 1952 was low, but increased in 1960 - 1961 and increased significantly in 1965 - 1967. She and her colleagues went to areas identified as having sprayed many toxic chemicals such as Ben Tre , Ca Mau...
She also compared the rate of Agent Orange exposure in the group of women who gave birth to disabled children and the opposite group at Tu Du Hospital. The results she gave were statistically significant and were praised by some American professors who were very good at statistics.
In 1987, at the international conference on the toxic chemical dioxin's harmful effects on the environment and humans in Las Vegas (USA), she had three reports accepted for publication by a British scientific journal, including a comparison between Ben Tre and Ho Chi Minh City, Ca Mau and Ho Chi Minh City, and people who came to Tu Du Hospital to give birth to children with birth defects compared to those who did not have birth defects, as well as the rate of exposure to Agent Orange.
In 2004, the Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) was established. As vice president, she has contributed greatly to bringing the voices of Agent Orange victims to the world , as well as efforts to fight for justice for them.
Professor, Doctor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong recounts the process of finding the connection between toxic chemicals and children with birth defects - Photo: TTD
Attending an international conference to prove that birth defects in children in Vietnam are caused by dioxin, Professor Phuong said that this was not easy as chemical companies sent lawyers and scientists to attend to argue.
She was appointed by the government to the US House Foreign Affairs Committee in 2008 and 2010. She also went to the International Court of Conscience in Paris in 2009 to speak out against US chemical companies that produced toxic chemicals that were harmful to humans.
Talking about the most special case in the journey to discover the truth, seek justice and support the group of people affected by Agent Orange, Professor Phuong mentioned the surgery to separate conjoined twins Viet and Duc in October 1988, performed by a team of hundreds of Vietnamese doctors from many specialties, with support from Japan in terms of machinery and medicine.
The successful surgery shocked the medical community at home and abroad and became an event on the international press forum. For Professor Phuong, the achievement of the surgery to separate Viet and Duc was not only the separation into two separate bodies, but also another very important achievement, which was a humane achievement when Viet lived to be nearly 20 years old, and Duc is currently working as a secretary in Hoa Binh village.
On November 16, 2024, Professor Phuong was one of five recipients of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, considered the Asian Nobel Prize. The award is not only a personal recognition but also means that the international community will join the Government and people of Vietnam in improving the lives of Agent Orange victims, as well as fighting for justice for them.
After receiving the award, she sent it through the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to organizations such as the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims, the Vietnam Association of Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims, and Hoa Binh Village to help these victims.
Ms. Cecilia L. Lazaro and Mr. Ramon B. Magsaysay Jr. presented the Ramon Magsaysay Award to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong - Photo: TTD
Birth of the "village midwife" program, in vitro fertilization
As the first person to lay the foundation for in vitro fertilization in Vietnam, Professor Phuong said that the birth of this technique came from her desire to find a way to treat infertile couples, when she witnessed many couples being childless leading to family discord and even divorce.
After many difficulties and preparations, with the permission of the Ministry of Health, on the day of national reunification, April 30, 1998, at Tu Du Hospital, the first three babies conceived through in vitro fertilization were born healthy and intact, opening up much hope for infertile couples.
According to Professor Ngoc Phuong, when bringing high technology and scientific achievements to the country, the target audience should not only be people with conditions but also people in difficult circumstances.
With the desire to help infertile families in difficult circumstances, she initiated the program Nurturing Happiness .
Over 10 consecutive seasons, the program has brought hope and opened up treatment opportunities for more than 600 infertile couples across the country.
Professor Phuong is also known as the founder of the "village midwife" program. She said that around 1990, the maternal and infant mortality rate in the mountainous provinces of the Central Highlands was very high when the birthing process of ethnic minorities was still backward, not allowing medical intervention but inviting shamans to perform rituals.
Seeing that many women unfortunately died during labor, Professor Phuong started training "village midwives" - these are people who are close to the locality, easy to propagate and can safely deliver babies at home. The program has now been expanded, helping to significantly reduce the mortality rate among mothers and children.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong - Hero of Labor, professor, doctor, People's Physician, former director of Tu Du Hospital
Try your best
Although she is over 80 years old, Professor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong is still working diligently. She said that she is passionate about reading Soviet books and is fascinated by philosophical sayings about life such as: "When we are born, we cry and everyone smiles at us. Live so that when we die, everyone cries and we smile."
For her, when her hair is still green and her blood is still hot, she should try her best to do what needs to be done and that must be useful. When others need it, she will help enthusiastically without a second thought, because just being alive is a happiness, so she must live well.
Professor Ngoc Phuong confided that her husband had sponsored her and her children to live abroad, but she chose to stay in Vietnam. For her, if her children stayed in Vietnam, they would have a better future, in a fairer society that respects the true value of people. This is still true today because human value is not judged by material things, but based on the dedication and contribution of each individual to society.
Professor, Doctor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong (born in 1944) is a famous Vietnamese medical doctor.
She is currently Vice President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (HOSREM), Vice President of the Vietnam Obstetrics and Gynecology Association (VAGO), former Director of Tu Du Hospital, former Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Heart Institute, former Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Ho Chi Minh City, former President of the Vietnam - US Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City.
She was a member of the 7th National Assembly, Vice President of the 8th National Assembly, and Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly from 1992 to 1997. She was awarded the title of Labor Hero, People's Physician, and the Third Class Labor Medal by the State.
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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ton-vinh-guong-mat-tieu-bieu-cua-tp-hcm-50-nam-bac-si-nguyen-thi-ngoc-phuong-20250423150733324.htm
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