Second Level-2 Field Hospital dispatched to South Sudan

November 13, 2019 - 21:00
Việt Nam dispatched its first level-2 hospital to the UN mission in South Sudan in October last year.
Female military officers of the second level-2 field hospital to be sent to South Sudan as part of Việt Nam's peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Defence on Wednesday held a send-off ceremony for the staff of the second Level-2 Field Hospital, which will participate in the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.

Speaking at the Hà Nội ceremony, Deputy Director of the Việt Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operation Col. Nguyễn Như Cảnh said the 63 members of the Level-2 Field Hospital No.2 had received training in line with UN standards. Many of them have taken peacekeeping training courses in the UK, Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, France and ASEAN states.

Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Việt Nam People’s Army, Lieut. Gen. Nguyễn Tân Cương gave the order for the Level-2 Field Hospital No.2 to depart for the mission, asking them to learn from the first hospital’s experience and avoid interrupting the operation of the South Sudan field hospital when taking over.

Deputy Minister of Defence Lieut. Gen. Nguyễn Chí Vịnh said sending another group of military medics to join UN peacekeeping operations showed Việt Nam’s active contributions to maintaining regional and global peace and security.

Vịnh urged the second hospital’s personnel to stay united, overcome hardship and complete all tasks assigned by the country and the UN. They must always comply with the UN’s peacekeeping rules as well as local and Vietnamese laws, he said.

The second hospital’s personnel will be transported by military aircraft provided by Australia.

Việt Nam dispatched its first level-2 hospital to the UN mission in South Sudan in October last year.

Officers and soldiers of the hospital have completed their mission to ensure health care for UN peacekeepers in South Sudan. They also joined defence foreign affairs and served as medical care-givers to locals.

A ceremony to welcome back and honour the returning peacekeepers will be held on December 2 at Military Hospital 175 in HCM City.

Since last October, when they first left for South Sudan, the hospital No1 has offered treatment for nearly 1,800 patients, with many life-saving surgeries conducted. — VNS

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