 Retired medical professionals are trained on taking COVID-19 tests. (photo: VOV) |
“We will work as much as we can” is the aspiration of all members of the community healthcare unit. They offer general healthcare to local people, offer adviceto people under medical quarantine at home, and trace those with close contact to COVID-19 patients.
The retired medical professionals put on white coats again to visit every alley and house to oversee pandemic preventive measures. They are willing to leave their houses even at night to take their task.
Nguyen Thi Nguyet, who was a physician at Quang Ninh General Hospital, said: “We have medical experience so after attending a quick training course we can get in the work immediately even if the pandemic develops more complicatedly. The most important factors are determination and unity of medical professionals.”
Military physician Nguyen Hong Tu has been retired for more than 10 years. He is now head of the residential unit No.6 of Hong Ha ward. He and his wife were among the first retirees to join the community medical team.
“When we were young, we volunteered to join the army to fight enemies. During the pandemic, we are ready to work because we have good health and profession,” said Nguyen Hong Tu.
 Community medical team of Hong Ha ward, Ha Long city (photo: VOV) |
Over the last year, since Quang Ninh province had the first COVID-19 patients, the community medical team has worked together with the police force to trace people who had contact with coronavirus patients, manage people coming in and out, and sharing the work with frontline forces.
Vu Thi Tuyet Mai, Chairwoman of Hong Ha ward’s Women’s Union, said: “Since the first wave of pandemic, retired doctors have been doing medical check-ups and COVID-19 screening tests for thousands of people. With the spirit of “doctors are like mothers”, they have contributed significantly to pandemic containment.”
Quang Ninh province’s Health Department has worked with localities to list retired doctors, medics, and medical professionals to train them for COVID-19 prevention and control.
Nguyen Trong Dien, Director of the Quang Ninh province’s Health Department, said: “We plan to train more medical professionals as soon as possible so they can take care of less severe patients or patients without symptoms. Severe patients will be sent to hospitals. It will avoid overload for the health sector.”
Quang Ninh is one of very few provinces that is safe from the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s time for Quang Ninh to enhance vaccinations and prepare human resources and infrastructure in response to the pandemic reoccurrence.