A view of a room in the house. — Photo toquoc.vn

HCM CITY — Doctor Lê Thanh Nga and her husband Đỗ Huỳnh Văn Huy have just completed a project which they nurtured during the past four years: building a free-of-charge accommodation for poor patients.

Nga, 44, used to work at the Hospital 175 and her husband Huy, 47, works at the Lê Văn Việt Hospital in Thủ Đức City in HCM City.

Their project was inaugurated last Saturday.

The house is located at No 340/14 Long Phước Street, Long Phước Ward in Thủ Đức City.

"When working at hospital, I saw too many poor patients," Nga said.

"Some people have no money to travel and pay for other expenses, so I built the house to help reduce their anxiety and stress."

The house was built from scratch on a 300sq.m piece of land. The single storey property is divided into different parts including living area, cooking area, bathing area and garden area.

The house has beds, fans, blankets, mats and pillows and cost around VNĐ10 billion (US$421,260) to build.

It will provide free accommodation for poor patients from all over the country coming to HCM City for treatment.

"My husband and I bought rice and necessities and put them in a warehouse," Nga added.

"If the number of patients is large, I will prepare a refrigerator to ensure that they have enough nutrition."

Nga and her husband also designed a garden, which is currently full of vegetables and different kinds of fruit.

Next to the garden, there is an aquarium.

She said: "Most patients have an uncomfortable mentality and mood. I want them to have a cool space where they can meditate, walk and they will feel more pleasant."

Many patients call Nga three times to confirm if this is true. It is hard to believe in the city that they can have a free-of-charge accommodation.

Vũ Xuân Láng, 73, from Ward 12, Gò Vấp District, suffered from last-stage liver cancer.

He is under treatment by Nga and her husband.

Láng said: “Living condition here is too good and Nga and her husband are kind-hearted. They work at hospital on weekdays, and treat patients here on weekends,” he said.

At present, 15 patients registered to live here.

“My colleagues have enough medical records of the patients and their living situation. It’s easy for me to define whether they really need help or not,” said Nga. — VNS