• Medical & Scientific Aid for Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia (MSAVLC) provides medical supplies, equipment, and training for medical professionals and hospitals in three South East Asian countries.

• MSAVLC supports disease treatment and training needs, funds medical supplies and equipment, and furthers research and information exchange.

• MSAVLC’s current main focus is supporting an anti-trachoma programme and the training of midwives in safer birthing methods. It also contributes to audiology and disabled children’s programmes. Many of the programmes are aimed at meeting the needs of children and the effects of Agent Orange.

• The charity has been entirely volunteer run since 1980. Despite this, the active trustees provide close project and results monitoring and supervision. Groups of trustees visit the region annually or more often.

• The volunteer management structure ensures donations are cost–effectively used.

• The anti-trachma project has reduced trachoma incidence significantly. 466,000 people have benefitted through regular checking of primary school children, simple publicity about hygeine, antibiotics, and surgery for late diagnosed cases.

• The training of 100 traditional midwives a year also emphasises birth control and the prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS from mother to infant.