SEA Games event billboard on the streets of Hà Nội ahead of the competition in May. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hiếu

HÀ NỘI — Fourteen hospitals and 16 medical centres will provide healthcare and COVID-19 prevention and control services during the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31), according to the municipal Department of Health.

The SEA Games 31 will last from May 12-23 with 40 sports events. Healthcare services for the Games will be provided from May 10-24 at 11 hotels and 15 competition venues.

Along with Hà Nội, activities and sport events will take place in 11 nearby provinces and centrally-run cities in the northern region: Bắc Ninh, Bắc Giang, Hà Nam, Nam Định, Ninh Bình, Hòa Bình, Hải Phòng, Hải Dương, Quảng Ninh, Vĩnh Phúc and Phú Thọ.

The capital city will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games and 22 sports events.

At a working session with the city’s Department of Health this week, Lương Ngọc Khuê, director of the Ministry of Health’s Department of Medical Examination and Treatment, underlined that SEA Games 31 asked the city to design an organisation and management map to ensure effective coordination among agencies and plans for medical service provision.

Deputy Director of Hà Nội’s Department of Health Vũ Cao Cường said that the department had directed hospitals and medical centres of districts and townships to set up medical teams, each comprising two doctors and two nurses with an ambulance car and medicine and equipment for members of the organising board, athletes and spectators.

Meanwhile, each hospital has been requested to set aside five to ten beds.

Deputy Director of the ministry’s Việt Nam Food Administration Nguyễn Hưng Long said that Hà Nội should make careful food inspections at competition venues and hotels hosting athletes and surrounding areas while making more detailed plans to ensure food safety during the event.

Khuê suggested that Hà Nội launch a campaign to keep the city green, clean and beautiful to welcome the SEA Games.

He said that the Medical and Anti-Doping Sub-Committee would work closely with Hà Nội’s Department of Health to check the readiness of the hospitals and medical centres and conduct medical rehearsals. — VNS