Teachers and students of Hải Phòng University of Medicine and Pharmacy help to take samples of residents in northern Bắc Giang Province for COVID-19 testing. VNA/VNS Photo

 HẢI DƯƠNG — Hải Phòng University has a long and proud history in Việt Nam as being a leader in medical science - and that reputation has only been strengthened in recent times. Since the start of the pandemic, more than 600 officers, teachers and students of Hải Phòng University of Medicine and Pharmacy have volunteered to travel to pandemic zones to help in the national fight against COVID-19.

Associate Professor, Doctor Nguyễn Văn Khải, rector of the university, said the university is one of the many units of the Ministry of Health that has contributed to the prevention and control of COVID-19.

Since the development of the pandemic in Việt Nam, teachers and students have volunteered to participate in the COVID-19 response in many localities across the country.

When COVID-19 hit Việt Nam, the school sent five groups of more than 600 teachers and students to support the COVID-19 pandemic response in HCM City, Hà Nội, Bắc Giang and Bình Dương provinces.

The school's first group was sent to Bắc Giang Province. 

At 8 am on May 27, Associate Professor, Dr Phạm Văn Linh, the school's vice rector and head of the delegation, left Hải Phòng City with 10 officers and teachers, and 70 students.

Master Lê Trần Tuấn Anh, vice head of the group, said they were tasked with supporting Việt Yên District.

Starting on May 28, every day they travelled from Bắc Giang City to Việt Yên District.

Their work started at 5 am and didn't finish until 11:30 pm. They supported local medical staff in tracing and large-scale testing.

Spending all day and all night wearing protective clothing was uncomfortable, especially with outdoor temperatures of up to 39 degrees Celsius. 

They were tired but did their best regardless.

After a long working day, many of them had to use ice to soothe their wounds caused by wearing gloves and masks for a long time, Anh said.

Anh's group completed their duties for 23 days in Việt Yên District. 

In August, another group from the university were sent to HCM City.

Anh again volunteered to go.  He is young and willing to fight against COVID-19 when the nation calls.

Associate Professor, Dr Nguyễn Văn Khải, the university's rector, said the teaching and learning of the school have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the teachers have tried to ensure training quality during the shift to online learning. 

Lê Khắc Nam, vice chairman of Hải Phòng City People's Committee, called on the school to continuously develop plans to proactively prevent and control the pandemic. 

The Department of Health is required to cooperate with the university to train a community health team that will be established soon, to provide further pandemic responses if required.

During the process of founding and development, Hải Phòng University of Medicine and Pharmacy made important contributions to the country's medical development process.

The university has cooperated with more than 40 countries to promote teaching and study. 

In 2016, Professor, Dr Phạm Văn Thức, former rector of the university, became the first Vietnamese person to receive the academician title at the French National Academy of Medicine.

The staff, lecturers and students of the school have also made important contributions to the development of hospitals and grassroots health systems in the northern coastal region. — VNS