Vietnamese student strives to bring smiles and ease pain for children with cleft palate

Tuệ Nam won the Silver Prize at the 2024 International Creativity and Innovation Award (ICIA) in Bangkok for his affordable nasal spray

HÀ NỘI - “I want to extend my warmest love to the incredible parents of children with cleft palate. You have done wonderful things for your children. By dedicating just a little more time each day to learning about antibiotics and exploring alternative products, you can bring even more happiness to their lives. Together, we can move toward a future without antibiotics.”

This heartfelt message comes from Nguyễn Tuệ Nam, a high school student at Reigate Grammar School Vietnam (RGSV), who will represent the LiveSmile group during the Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) from November 18 to 24.

Tuệ Nam and the LiveSmile team not only offer words of encouragement but also aim to raise parents' awareness in their journey of caring for children with cleft palate, who often face significant challenges.

LiveSmile – Spreading smiles, easing the pain for children with cleft palate

LiveSmile is a dedicated group of high school students committed to providing equitable healthcare for children with cleft palate. In addition to supporting free surgeries through Operation Smile, they focus on scientific research to combat antibiotic resistance—a major concern for children with cleft palate, who are particularly vulnerable to respiratory infections.

Tuệ Nam and other members of LiveSmile were preparing logistics for Operation Smile's Smile Surgery programme

A significant achievement by Tuệ Nam and the LiveSmile team was a comprehensive survey conducted at the end of 2022, which examined the behaviors of parents regarding antibiotic use and offered practical solutions to reduce antibiotic resistance in children. The findings were presented at the International Young Researchers' Conference in Tokyo in 2023, helping to raise community awareness about the importance of proper antibiotic usage.

Science and innovation – Tools in the fight against antibiotic resistance

In addition to participating in survey projects, Tuệ Nam directly assisted doctors at the National Children's Hospital in clinical trials using Spore Probiotics as an alternative to antibiotics for treating influenza. This groundbreaking study, published in Nature Scientific Reports, recognised both Tuệ Nam and LiveSmile for their contributions—marking a significant milestone in the fight against antibiotic resistance among children.

Notably, in a recent project, Tuệ Nam developed an innovative nasal spray aimed at improving respiratory health. This spray is especially convenient for children with cleft palate, as it can be used upside down when they are lying on their side. With a user-friendly design, the spray is set to launch in October 2024, with hundreds of thousands of units expected to hit the market. This innovative idea helped Tuệ Nam win the Silver Prize at the International Creativity and Innovation Award (ICIA) 2024 competition in Bangkok, Thailand.

“Designing a new, better, and more affordable spray will encourage families to use it regularly, helping to reduce drug resistance,” Tuệ Nam shared.

A journey to bring smiles to children

From a young age, Tuệ Nam admired his grandmother, a doctor dedicated to her patients. This desire to help others became a fundamental part of his character. Today, Tuệ Nam's mission extends beyond assisting a few children; he aims to transform how millions of parents approach antibiotic use for their children. His research and innovations symbolise hope and change for the community.

With each contribution, no matter how small, Tuệ Nam hopes to create a future where antibiotics are no longer a burden for children with cleft palate, replaced instead by brighter smiles. LiveSmile will continue this journey, tirelessly combating antibiotic resistance and bringing joy to underprivileged children.- VNS