HISTORY

The Duangkaew Foundation was founded in 1988, by a group of plastic surgeons in Bangkok, Thailand. Their main objective was to ease the plight of the handicapped, the disabled and the needy in the countryside and provide them access to medical facilities and personnel. Duangkaew strives to bring to the poor, including plastic surgery to correct birth defects, disfigurement resulting from accidents, unsightly protuberances, etc. Originally, Duangkaew directed its efforts mainly to helping children suffering from birth defects, harelip, cleft palate, tumors, abnormal organs, scars, bumps, burns, skin stains, etc. Currently, Duangkaew is directing its aid to the general population, including the young and the old.

The surgical teams include specialists in Plastic and reconstructive surgery and volunteers. They travel to the remotest provinces to deliver their services to the poor without discriminate on the basis race, creed, color, religion or national origin, their expedition team of surgeon and volunteer staff has also rendered medical services to patients in the neighboring countries. Help is not limited to medical services, but also includes help to needy rural students and schools, nutrition (lunch) projects, donation of educational, sports and utility equipment, vocational training, etc.

OBJECTIVES

The Duangkaew Foundation was established with the basic aim to helping the disabled and the disadvantaged achieve a greater degree of happiness to become respected members of society. The Foundation has three primary objectives:

To help the disabled and the disadvantaged
To promote medical research
To spread the faith in Buddhism

The Foundation realizes that drugs alone cannot treat the suffering of the impoverished and the disabled in the isolated areas. It is very difficult for these people to travel to the city due to their state of poverty. In addition, the rural hospitals have shortages of doctors, including specialists with specialized equipment. Only medical specials, not normally found in rural areas or provincial hospitals, can eliminate the physical deformities of these patients. The Duangkaew Foundation seeks to bridge this gap.