HOUSING SITUATION:

The family does not have a house.  They currently live in Cuong's grandfather's house. Before his grandfather’s house was a thatched house and it was collapsed, so he sold 300m² of land and earned 60,000,000vnd (3,750usd).  In 2006, his grandfather built a new house.  It has a tile roof and walls are made of concrete blocks.  Inside are two beds, a wooden table and chair set, and a cupboard.  They use an outdoor cesspit as a toilet.  Water is drawn from a hand-dug well. 

MEANS OF SUBSISTENCE:

The family's annual income from farming is low, so they have barely enough food to eat.  They cultivate 1,000m² of agricultural land.  Each year they harvest 1,000kg of rice from two crops.  This product is used for their daily food.  They also raise two pigs and earn about 2,000,000vnd (152usd) a year.

Additionally, the father works as a bricklayer and earns about 35,000 vnd (2.19 usd) per day.  This work is not regular.

FAMILY ECONOMIC SITUATION:

Cuong’s heart disease was first diagnosed in Ha Tinh Hospital when he was two years old.  Doctors said that he needed an operation.  However, he needed to weight 9kg before surgery.  His weight was only 8kg at that time.  Therefore, he was only treated with medicine. 

LHAF funded his examination at Hue Hospital.  In the second examination doctors there said that he needed to be operated on and set the surgery cost at 30,000,000 vnd (1,875 usd).  At time of the medical examination his health was poor.  He frequently coughed and had a high fever; he was sent to Ha Tinh Hospital for treatment many times.

Cuong's father had high blood on his brain, so he was examined and treated by medicine at Bach Mai Hospital in Ha Noi in November 2007.  It cost 10,000,000 vnd (625 usd).   Now he can not do heavy work, so he does not contribute much for the family's income.  In addition, Cuong's parents support his grandfather who is 88 years old.  The family faced many challenges when knowing Cuong's surgery cost.  They borrowed 12,000,000 vnd (750 usd) from the bank in preparation for his operation. 

OUTCOME:

Cuong was operated on successfully at Hue Hospital on March 20, 2008.  Now his health is much improved.  He will have a follow up examination after a month.

The real of surgery cost was 30,000,000 vnd (1,875 usd).

- LHAF supported 10,000,000 vnd (625 usd) for Cuong's surgery cost and 185,000 vnd (11.57 usd) for the medical examination.

- OGCDC funded 8,000,000 vnd (500 usd).