Medical aid program brings new life to children with deformities in Chamdo

Over the past seven years, renowned hand surgery experts across China have been offering free surgical clinics to children with hand and foot deformities in Chamdo city, Xizang autonomous region.

Chamdo?is a high-incidence area for pediatric hand and foot deformities in China. These deformities significantly restrict functionality and cause daily life inconveniences and psychological distress for affected children. The impact on their social participation and mental well-being is particularly pronounced.

While local Party committees and governments have long prioritized the prevention and treatment of this condition, the surgeries required are complex. Successful treatment demands an integration of advanced techniques, including microsurgery and hand surgery, capabilities currently beyond the scope of local medical institutions in Chamdo.

To support the children and families impacted by these conditions, the "Beijing Hou'ai Joint Health Foundation" has organized seven missions with renowned hand surgery experts to Chamdo. Through their efforts, the appearance and function of affected children's hands and feet have been restored, even in severe cases. Many children have regained essential functions such as writing, significantly improving their quality of life and educational engagement. Timely surgical intervention can fully restore both physical and mental health in many cases.

As of May this year, the Beijing Municipal Health Commission has joined this initiative, sending additional doctors to assist. The program has provided free surgeries for over 300 children in Chamdo, with a 100 percent success rate, earning widespread praise in the local community. Post-surgery improvements among children have included enhanced academic performance, better peer relationships, and improved integration into school life.

To further meet the treatment needs of children with hand and foot deformities in Xizang, the Beijing Municipal Health Commission established a "Hand and Foot Deformity Diagnosis and Treatment Center" at Lhasa People's Hospital in May. Led by Beijing Jishuitan Hospital and Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, the center focuses its work on preventive medicine, with hand surgery as its core discipline. In addition to treating existing cases, the center is also tasked with conducting preventive research to reduce future incidence rates of such deformities.

The center will explore new systems and mechanisms for medical assistance in Xizang that reflect the practical needs of healthcare aid in the new era. It will maintain an open, collaborative approach, inviting experts from across the country in fields such as hand surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, preventive medicine, rehabilitation medicine, and social medicine to contribute. Scholars interested in pediatric hand and foot deformities will also be encouraged to participate in long-term, collaborative efforts with local health departments.

The center's primary mission is to train local clinical professionals, aiming to enhance the technical expertise of the regional healthcare workforce. Over the medium to long term, the goal is to advance medical disciplines, bolster local professionals' research capabilities, and serve the health needs of children across Xizang from a professional, medical standpoint. These efforts are expected to promote both the physical and psychological development of Tibetan?children and contribute to the emergence of a new discipline in plateau medicine.

The Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has been closely tracking and evaluating the project. Researchers from the institute note that such medical aid programs are critical to improving the health and development of children on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. They praise Beijing's multi-tiered assistance approach, emphasizing the tangible benefits it has brought to children and families. The project is expected to have lasting positive effects on the health and well-being of children in the region.

Yao Yu contributed to this story.