Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính speaks to the medical staff at a COVID-19 treatment facility. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Monday morning visited the COVID-19 treatment facility at Hà Nội Medical University Hospital and the National Children's Hospital, to extend his wishes for the Lunar New Year.

Minister of Health Nguyễn Thanh Long accompanied the PM on his visit. 

Speaking to the healthcare workers, PM Chính expressed his gratitude and appreciation to those who have sacrificed the holidays with their loved ones to take care of the patients.

He hoped that the healthcare staff would continue their efforts to stay strong and overcome the challenges, for the sake of protecting the people’s health. 

Prevailing through the fourth wave of the pandemic, PM Chính said the country was able to review, derive and complete a ‘formula’ to prevent and control the pandemic in accordance to the local context, focusing on the 5K measures, medicines, technology, and people’s awareness. 

“We prioritised the vaccines for HCM City and the Southeastern provinces, which has resulted in the city’s confidence to reopen and reduced fatality rate,” said PM Chính.

“This is a lesson learnt for us to be confident and reopen, entering the new normal with the pandemic in a scientific, effective way that is appropriate to the current context.”

At the National Children’s Hospital, the PM visited the young patients and their families, and presented them with the traditional ‘lucky money’ for the Lunar New Year.

There are currently about 600 children at the facility who will be treated throughout the holiday.

PM Chính asked the healthcare forces to continue to strive and push through the difficulties, and never cease to improve their expertise.

He also called on the National Children’s Hospital and the health sector to review the immediate tasks, while working on long-term strategies and grassroots solutions to healthcare for the children - the future generations of the country. 

Noting that the pandemic situation would continue to be complicated with the emergence of Omicron and possibly other new variants, the PM ordered that the health ministry and its units continue their achievements, and learn from their experience in the fight against COVID-19.

PM Chính also requested officials to focus on benefit policies for the medical staff for their contributions and sacrifices for the health and lives of the people. 

He also ordered urgency in the spring COVID-19 vaccination campaign to meet the desired objectives, since reality has shown that the majority of critical cases and deaths are those unvaccinated, elder citizens, or with underlying health conditions. — VNS