Lieutenant General Đỗ Quyết, director of the Military Medical Academy, bids farewell and encourages military medical doctors and students before their departure on Saturday morning. — Photo courtesy of the Ministry of National Defence

Hiền Hạnh

HÀ NỘI — Packing clothes into a suitcase, Cao Thị Lân, a fifth year student at the Military Medical Academy in Hà Nội, is heading south.

She is one of 295 doctors and students from the academy mobilised to assist HCM City and southern localities fight COVID-19 on Saturday (August 21).

Last Friday night (August 20), Lân and her classmates were told they would depart the next morning. They immediately gathered their personal belongings and got ready.

The 22-year old student said almost her classmates, except for those who are sick, registered to help the southern region.

“My class has 102 out of 107 students joining this trip. All of us have been trained with professional skills to perform our tasks at field hospitals and other venues.

“Our team will be divided into mobile assistance groups to visit and offer treatment to COVID patients,” she told Vietnam News Agency.

Vũ Việt Thắng, Lân’s classmate, said he registered to assist in Bắc Giang but was not needed. This time, although it's his first trip volunteering, he is determined to share difficulties with his fellow frontline medical team in the south.

“My father is a retired army officer and mother is a teacher," he said. "Before departure, I called them and they seemed worried. We encouraged each other to overcome difficulties.

“My girlfriend, who is studying at another school, wished me well on the trip to fulfill my mission.”

Thắng said his team would support taking testing samples as well as offering treatment and assistance to pandemic-hit areas.

Among 295 members of the Military Medical Academy heading to the south in this group, there are 113 doctors, two officers and 180 students.

Lieutenant Doctor Đỗ Trung Thành, a post-graduate student, said “All of us are confident and determined to complete assigned tasks.”

“Medical ethics are in the heart of every doctor. Because the southern region needs us, as military doctors, we will try to do our best, keeping the belief of beating the pandemic."

Before departure, Thành and his wife who is also working for the Ministry of National Defence, received best wishes from relatives and colleagues.

His wife, Captain Nguyễn Thùy Linh, is working in the defence force so she understands hardships of frontline forces.

Although she is six-month pregnant and is raising their first child - a toolder, she still encouraged her husband to take on the trip.

Senior Lieutenant Nguyễn Tiến Dũng, a post-graduate student and a medical worker with the Army Corps of Engineers, also received encouragement from his seven-month pregnant wife and parents.

“This is the motivation for me to complete my tasks and help people in the southern provinces return to normal life as soon as possible,” said Senior Lieutenant Dũng.

Colonel Lê Thị Nga, working at the Military Institute of Traditional Medicine, feels luckier because her growing children can live independently while she is far from home.

“I feel proud to be one member of the medical military force," she said. "We will visit every residential area to reach F0 patients and help them recover as soon as possible."

According to Lieutenant General Đỗ Quyết, director of the Military Medical Academy, the difference of this force deployment is that they will be divided into mobile medical teams to visit residential groups and offer medial support.

This is a valuable clinical practice opportunity for the students and requires all team members to uphold their discipline, responsibility and knowledge to learn and to serve the people, he said. — VNS

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Second batch of Military Medical Academy doctors and students mobilised on Monday

Military doctors and students make preparation before their departure. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết

An additional batch of 1,096 doctors, nurses and students of the Military Medical Academy headed to HCM City and southern localities on Monday on COVID-19 missions.

The academy has so far mobilised two batches with 1,391 doctors and students to the south. They include 452 doctors, nurses and 939 third year to sixth year students.

More than 1,000 doctors, nurses and students of the Military Medical Academy head to HCM City and southern localities on Monday on COVID-19 missions. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết

A female officer says goodbye to friends as she heads south on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết

The team will be divided into 451 mobile groups to work at communes and wards in HCM City.

"They will have meals and stay at the same accommodation with local residents to help people fight the pandemic," Lieutenant General Đỗ Quyết, director of the Military Medical Academy said.

They are tasked with taking testing samples, assisting frontline forces with vaccination and offering home treatment to F0 cases. VNS