Nguyễn Văn Nên, Secretary of the HCM City Party's Committee, gives certificates to frontline forces at a ceremony on Friday. VNA/VNS Photo by Xuân Khu

HCM CITY — The HCM City Party’s Committee yesterday honoured medical workers and students, armed forces personnel, and religious volunteers who have helped the city deal with the fourth wave of COVID-19 in the past 100 days.

Speaking at a ceremony on Friday, Nguyễn Văn Nên, Secretary of the city Party's Committee, said: “Frontline forces and volunteers have had great contributions in controlling the pandemic in the city.”

Their contribution and sacrifice played a very important role in helping the city achieve good results in pandemic prevention and control, reduce fatalities, and prepare for “new normal” life, he said.

Nên on behalf of the city’s Party’s Committee and people expressed gratitude for nearly 30,000 individuals and organisations who have sacrificed to support the country’s pandemic hotspot and the city’s frontline forces.

He also gave thanks to the Central government, other provinces and cities, and religious organisations, who have provided assistance and aid to the city.

The Party’s Committee awarded a certificate of merit to 55 organisations and medals for 119 individuals at the ceremony.

On behalf of the honoured organisations and individuals, Nguyễn Vân Giang, deputy head of the Military Medical Department under the Ministry of National Defence’s General Department of Logistics, said: “HCM City and Southern provinces have controlled the fourth wave of the pandemic. And I’m so proud that the military and armed forces have contributed to the victory.”

Giang added there would be still more difficulties and challenges in pandemic prevention and control, but the military and other forces have always stood by the city to take care of COVID-19 patients and support field hospitals and intensive care units.

The attendees, at the beginning of the ceremony, paid tribute to people who have died from COVID-19 as well as heroic medical workers and frontline responders who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The city was the hardest hit in the country, with over 402,200 COVID-19 cases and 15,520 deaths confirmed to date. 

As of October 8, the city had given more than 7 million first vaccine shots and nearly 4.9 million second shots. — VNS