Staff of the Level-2 Field Hospital No 3 pose for a photo at the event. — VNA/VNS Photo Xuân Khu

HCM CITY — The Ministry of National Defence officially introduced Level-2 Field Hospital No 3, which will be deployed to the UN mission in South Sudan, at a ceremony in HCM City on Wednesday.

It is connected to the HCM City-based Central Military Hospital 175 and has 70 members.

Addressing the event, Deputy Defence Minister Sen Lt Gen Nguyễn Chí Vịnh spoke highly of the efforts made by units of the defence ministry, the Việt Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations and Central Military Hospital 175 in readying the field hospital, especially in terms of personnel, to replace Level-2 Field Hospital No 2.

He asked relevant parties to co-ordinate closely and continue training staff so the hospital is able to fulfill its tasks even more effectively than its predecessors.

On the occasion, Vịnh also appreciated other countries and international partners’ support for Việt Nam during the building, training and deployment of its peacekeeping force for UN operations.

Deputy head of the EU Delegation to Việt Nam Axelle Nicaise congratulated the peacekeeping force of Việt Nam on its achievements, which had helped promote the country’s stature and reputation in the international arena.

She said the EU and Việt Nam shared the same wish to ensure regional and global security and peace.

The EU would always stand ready to support Việt Nam in peacekeeping activities, the diplomat said, adding that it also hoped the Level-2 Field Hospital No 3 and future units of Việt Nam’s peacekeeping force would receive more assistance from international friends, including the EU.

At a meeting earlier the same day, Maj Gen Hoàng Kim Phụng, director of the Việt Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, reported that Level-2 Field Hospital No 2 had been performing its duties well. In three months working in Bentiu, it had provided checks and treatment for 527 patients, successfully conducted six surgeries, and airlifted three patients in critical conditions to higher-level hospitals. — VNS