Vietnamese First Lady visits hospital-school model for children in Belgium

Vietnamese First Lady Ngo Phuong Ly visited young patients receiving treatment at Queen Fabiola Children's University Hospital (HUDERF) in Belgium on Thursday, during an official visit to Belgium and the European Union by General Secretary and State President To Lam and his spouse.

The hospital has an on-site school and extensive experience in mental health care and early intervention for children with autism.

Hospital leaders introduced Madam Ngo Phuong Ly to HUDERF’s facilities, scope of operations and pediatric care and treatment services. The hospital is part of the Brussels University Hospital network (HUB).

Established in 1986 and named after Queen Fabiola of Belgium, HUDERF is one of the country’s leading centers for comprehensive pediatric research and treatment.

During a visit to the child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit, Madam Ngo Phuong Ly spoke warmly with young patients and asked about their well-being.

Recognizing that being hospitalized far from home and friends can leave children feeling anxious and exhausted, she encouraged the 'little warriors' to remain brave and confident. 

She reminded them that they were surrounded by the love of their grandparents and parents, as well as the dedicated care of doctors and nurses. 

Based on discussions with doctors and her own observations, Madam Ngo Phuong Ly praised the hospital’s approach to pediatric care, which places as much emphasis on children’s emotional well-being and psychological development as on medical treatment.

For children with autism, HUDERF prioritizes early intervention. Children aged 18 months to four years receive intensive play-based therapy under the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM). 

The hospital also has a day treatment unit for parents and young children, as well as a therapeutic nursery for children aged two and a half to six.

Another distinctive feature of HUDERF is the Robert Dubois School, located within the hospital. Managed by the City of Brussels, the specialized school serves patients aged two and a half to 21.

The therapeutic nursery works closely with the school to ensure that education and treatment go hand in hand, allowing children to continue their studies during their hospital stays.

Families are also considered an integral part of the treatment process. About 50 meters from the main entrance is a residence where parents can stay close to their children.

Doctors and nurses also patiently guide parents on how to support their children throughout treatment, ensuring that no child has to face those difficult days alone.

The spouse of General Secretary and State President To Lam expressed her admiration for the hospital’s medical staff, saying they viewed their work not merely as a profession but as a mission. 

Beyond their medical expertise, she said, they were truly second mothers who provided comfort and protection to children through their most difficult days.

Madam Ngo Phuong Ly said the doctors’ dedication, nurses’ gentle smiles and thoughtful details throughout the children’s living spaces helped ease young patients’ anxiety and reassure their parents. 

Every therapy session, small step forward and word of encouragement that helped children regain their confidence and love of life was a building block toward a brighter future, she said.

At a subsequent meeting, Professor Véronique Delvenne, head of child and adolescent psychiatry at the Brussels University Hospital network (HUB), said the hospital had launched two three-year cooperation programs with Vietnam in 2022. 

The main partner was Hue Central Hospital, with the participation of the National Children's Hospital.

Through the cooperation, Hue Central Hospital’s Pediatric Center established an autism unit with dedicated space for individualized early intervention. The hospital also opened a separate inpatient unit for adolescents, led by a psychiatrist trained in Brussels.

Psychological education programs and training sessions for parents have helped them develop skills to support their children. Two Vietnamese healthcare professionals are currently undertaking internships at HUDERF.

Thanking the hospital’s leadership for its warm welcome, Madam Ngo Phuong Ly said the visit had given her deeper insight into Belgium’s experience in pediatric care, an area that Vietnam currently considers a high priority.

Describing HUDERF’s model as worthy of wider recognition and praising the tangible results of its cooperation with Vietnam, she expressed hope that the hospital and its Belgian partners would continue to expand collaboration with Vietnamese healthcare institutions, enabling more children to receive care that combines medical expertise with compassion.

First Lady Ngo Phuong Ly offers encouragement to children undergoing treatment