Dr Doãn Uyên Vy, deputy head of Chợ Rẫy Hospital’s poison control unit, examines a patient at a newly established poison-control examination room at the hospital’s outpatient department. Photo courtesy of the hospital

HCM CITY — Chợ Rẫy Hospital in HCM City has opened a poison-control examination room, the first of its kind in the southern region.

The examination room at the hospital’s outpatient department will create a foundation for the opening of a Poison Control Centre.

The room will offer activities related to prevention, recognition, and management of poisoning. It will provide individual toxic agent screening as well as consultation treatment of poisoning cases.

The room will offer information to the public, businesses and factories regarding poisoning exposure and prevention in the workplace.

International cooperation and research are also part of the major activities of the poison-control examination room.

Dr Doãn Uyên Vy, deputy head of the hospital’s poison control unit, said that Poison Control Centres (PCC) set up in many countries aim to reduce deaths and complications caused by poisoning.

In Việt Nam, many types of new chemicals have been used over the past 20 years. One can be poisoned by using medications, exposure to chemicals at work or in the home, and by household chemicals, she said.

Toxic chemicals are in many products that are used every day, potentially causing poisoning when used with small amounts but for a long time.

The hospital has treated many hospitalised patients with severe poisoning over the past five years, she added.

Education, consultancy, early detection and treatment are vital to save lives as it can be untreatable in some severe poisoning cases, she added. —VNS