SIX Notre Dame medical students will head to Vietnam to volunteer in HIV clinics next month.

The six have raised $4,000 for essential medical supplies  and will carry around 100kg of medical equipment with them.

Many doctors in the country continue to refuse to treat HIV positive patients, forcing them to go to the few under-resourced clinics that will take them in, medical student Taylor Harwood says.

•Tess Hooper, Michael Kennedy, Kasia Lewandowska and Taylor Harwood. Photos supplied

The Notre Dame students will be working with one who does:

“Dr Phan and his wife are united in their unflinching effort to improve the lives of the disadvantaged and poor, treating countless HIV positive patients at their clinic as well as attending night clinics, where HIV medication and treatment can be given at no cost to the patient,” Ms Harwood says.

The students are hoping to raise an additional $2,000 before they fly out in late November and are seeking donations of medical equipment, including a hand-held ophthalmoscope and a medical cauteriser.

If you have one lying around in the shed (or just want to donate funds) visit http://www.mycause.com.au/page/128349/volunteer-vietnam

by STEPHEN POLLOCK