At 4pm on 14 August, 13-year-old Lam Thi Ny and her 15-year-old sister Lam Thi Nguyen from the Co Tu ethnic minority group in Da Nang’s Hoa Vang District were attacked by a swarm of wasps.  The incident happened whilst they were cutting grass to feed their family’s cow in an acacia plantation in their village.

Ny was stung over 100 times by the wasps, whilst Nguyen suffered from 40 wasp stings.  The 2 girls were rushed to the district’s Hoa Bac Commune Medical Centre for immediate treatment.  At 8.00pm, Ny was transferred to the city’s Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital for further treatment, whilst Nguyen was admitted to the Da Nang General Hospital.

Ny undergoing dialysis at the Da Nang Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital

On 15 August, doctors at the Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital began filtering Ny’s blood because she was suffering from multiple organ failure, renal insufficiency, and muscle necrosis.  Doctors said that the cost of her dialysis will be over 20 million VND and, although Ny has a health insurance card, her family will still have to pay 8 million VND.  The 2 girls come from a very poor family.  Their parents earn only a little money from cutting firewood and collecting rattan for sale, and the cow is the family’s most valuable asset.  With their financial difficulties, the 2 girls’ parents cannot afford to cover the cost of treating their daughters.

The girls are desperately in need of financial assistance.  Donations can be sent to the Da Nang Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital, 402 Le Van Hien, Ngu Hanh Son District or contact their father, Mr Lam Quang Bich, on 01269155865.