A doctor examines a patient with post-COVID-19 symptoms at the Cần Thơ General Hospital. — Photo baocantho.com.vn

CẦN THƠ — Cần Thơ General Hospital is offering patients suffering from 'long COVID' a screening and counselling clinic to aid their recovery, the first hospital in the southern city to do so. 

The hospital’s Medical Examination Ward currently manages nearly 3,000 post-COVID-19 patients, who in many cases have health problems such as fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, and insomnia after recovering from COVID-19.

In response, the hospital founded a post-COVID-19 clinic, accepting patients who have recently recovered from the disease but are still suffering. 

On average, the hospital receives about 30 patients with post-COVID-19 symptoms every day.

Doctor Lê Thị Thúy Nhàn, from the General Internal Ward, told VOV e-newspaper that patients were examined, screened, and treated for post-COVID-19 illnesses by specialists in respiratory, cardiology, neurology, nutrition and rehabilitation. They all had extensive experience in treating COVID-19 patients.

Most patients at the clinic were 30 years old or older; elderly people with underlying diseases account for the majority.

"We examine the patients and, depending on their symptoms, give medicine and guidance for proper diet and rest," said Nhàn.

Nguyễn Thị Lê, 83, from Ninh Kiều District, said that due to her old age and many underlying diseases, her overall health was weakened by COVID. Recently, she also had a cough and difficulty breathing, so her family took her to the hospital for examination at the post-COVID-19 clinic.

“I feel much more secure in my mind thanks to the instructions of the doctors,” she said.

Immediately after the Tết holiday, the number of patients at Cần Thơ General Hospital increased to an average of 1,600-1,700 patients per day. Many of them need to be hospitalised.

The hospital has proactively arranged infrastructure, equipment and staff to meet the needs of the patients.

Particularly in the post-COVID-19 clinic, doctors receive many patients with different conditions and instruct them with appropriate treatment.

The hospital’s intensive care unit is divided into two areas, one for severe and critical COVID-19 patients, the other for non-COVID-19 patients.

Doctor Nguyễn Thị Thu Vân, from the General Internal Ward, said that doctors always wanted to reduce patient anxiety after COVID-19 and have more peace of mind.

"All doctors must update knowledge from the Ministry of Health or conferences and seminars about respiratory illnesses, and apply this knowledge to help patients recover quickly and reduce their worries about the disease,” said Vân.

Children with post-COVID-19 symptoms can be examined at the Cần Thơ Paediatrics Hospital. All doctors hope that, after half a month and a month of treatment, patients will improve both physically and psychologically, and soon return to normal life. — VNS