POF - Vietnam Orthotics Project

Tien, OTRC orthotist, showcases a knee - ankle - foot orthosis (KAFO).

From 2002 to 2005, with support form the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), POF assisted the Orthopedic Technical Rehabilitation Center (OTRC) in Vietnam with the manufacturing and field testing of seven different types of orthotic components.

The project was initiated in response to an increasing demand for high-quality, affordable orthotic components in among orthopedic professionals in Vietnam. After initial research, POF determined that local manufacturing of orthotic components would not only be the most cost-effective way to meet the demand but would also strengthen the Vietnamese orthopedic rehabilitation sector, reducing the need for external assistance by non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

In the implementation of this project, POF and OTRC worked closely with a number of key NGOs active in Vietnam's rehabilitation community, including VIETCOT and the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF).

Collaborating with these NGO partners and Vietnamese clinical consultants, POF is pleased to have accomplished the following key outcomes for the Orthotics Project:

Improved local infrastructure for orthotic component manufacturing
Increased production and quality of component manufacturing
Development of 7 high-quality, locally affordable products
Improved product marketing and customer relations for OTRC

Hien, with her mother, stands tall with her new leg brace		Dr. Hung, leader of the orthotics project evaluation team, evaluates a patient		The evaluation team gathers to inspect orthotic joints for durability
An ankle - foot orthosis (AFO) patient smiles because she knows she will now be able to walk		Tien and Cuong rest after practicing with their new KAFO orthoses		Another KAFO patient is ready to walk!