HÀ NỘI Hồ Liễu Hương, from the central province of Bình Thuận, could have given up the opportunity for a heart transplant if it hadn't been for the support of social workers at Chợ Rẫy Hospital, one of whose main tasks is to call for donations for patients in need.

The woman said she only had VNĐ3 million in her pocket when she was admitted to Chợ Rẫy Hospital for a heart transplant.

Staff at the hospital's Social Work Department offered to support her and, after a week of efforts, the donations amounted to VNĐ400 million, which was enough for Hương to cover the cost of a heart transplant and post-transplant treatment.

Nguyễn Quốc Dũng, her husband, said: "At that time, my family had no money and we almost had to refuse the precious opportunity of a heart transplant."

The doctors encouraged his wife to undergo the transplant first and worry about the money later.

It was Lê Minh Hiển, head of the Social Work Department, and his colleagues who helped mobilise the money.

This is only one among many cases that Hiển has successfully assisted with.

Lê Minh Hiển, head of the Social Work Department, checks the documents of patients so he can find the best way to offer support. VNA/VNS Photo Đinh Hằng

“Hiển and the doctors here are benefactors of my family. It’s like my wife were born for a second time, thanks to them," he said.

After fifteen years of engaging in social work activities at Chợ Rẫy Hospital, for Lê Minh Hiển, the greatest joy is seeing patients overcome their hardships and return home with a smile on their faces.

"If I had to choose again, I would still select Chợ Rẫy Hospital and opt to do social work. Here, all medical staff and patients are family members. I still want to do more for the poor and disadvantaged patients," Hiển said.

In the same 15 years, the thing that makes him proudest is earning the trust of hospital leaders, benefactors, and patients and their relatives.

Hiển has mobilised billions of đồng each year, all for the patients in need. He has initiated many meaningful programmes to support patients coming to the hospital for examination and treatment over the past 15 years.

In 1996, Lê Minh Hiển started working at Chợ Rẫy Hospital as a laboratory technician in the Department of Haematology. He participated in many volunteer medical visits organised by the hospital.

From these trips, thoughts about how to better support the sick and impoverished people when they come to the hospital kept rekindling in his heart.

For Lê Minh Hiển, his biggest joy is seeing patients overcome their hardships and return home with a smile on their face. VNA/VNS Photo Đinh Hằng

In 2008, the Board of Directors of Chợ Rẫy Hospital decided to establish a Social Medicine Unit. Hiển volunteered to participate and became one of the first three members of the Unit.

The three-member unit has now become the Social Work Department with dozens of employees. They have implemented dozens of programmes led by Hiển as Head of the Department.

He recounted that at first, the Social Work Department's activities simply involved mobilising money to support hospital fees for patients. On average, he could raise from VNĐ10 billion to 20 billion each year for patients.

All money was spent to support patients in a transparent and clear manner. His nickname "Zero đồng Billionaire" was born from this.

With more experience and interaction with patients, Hiển became more aware of their needs. He led the Social Work Department to run 25 activities, many of which bring profound meaning to patients.

These activities range from hospital fee support, medical examination and treatment guidance, first aid instruction, to patient rights protection, health insurance consultation and assistance, free heart surgery for children, as well as providing food and company to patients undergoing dialysis or treatment for cancer.

"When coming to the hospital, almost everyone has worries and concerns, from not knowing where to register for a check-up, and where to pay, to facing many difficulties and obstacles when admitted to the hospital. Our mission is to help the patients become more familiar with the procedures, to create a feeling of closeness and friendliness like at home for peace of mind during treatment," Hiển said.

During the period when HCM City was fighting against COVID-19, Hiển became a bridge to support both medical staff as well as patients.

He provided daily essentials for his colleagues. He did the same to the patients with items such as diapers, wet tissues, dry tissues, and bathtubs.

He also deployed a channel to find information and provide updates on the status of people with COVID-19 being treated at Chợ Rẫy Hospital and COVID-19 Resuscitation Hospital.

Hiển during a trip to Đà Lạt with children who lost their parents due to COVID-19 organised by Chợ Rẫy Hospital in late May this year. VNA/VNS Photo Đinh Hằng

During the period of social distancing, 300 trips organised by Hiển and his colleagues at Chợ Rẫy Hospital brought more than 1,100 people with COVID-19, who had been treated, back to health and reunited them with their families.

With each difficult situation he encountered, Hiển devoted all his efforts to finding ways to support the patient. Many times, he went back and forth to find the best way to assist the sick.

"I just put myself in the position of the relatives, the patient's family, imagining how they would worry and panic when their loved ones, unfortunately, fall into a difficult situation. And more than ever, how much it means to reach out a hand to them at this time," Hiển said.

In the recent case of two siblings who suffered from Botulinum poisoning, after learning about the difficult situation (in which the younger brother did not have health insurance), Hiển contacted the Social Insurance Agency of Hậu Giang Province and arranged for the younger brother to have health insurance in May. Although applying for health insurance had some difficulties, Hiển did not give up, remaining determined to solve it to the end. He also mobilised VNĐ130 million to support them in paying their hospital fees.

Hiển and the Social Work Department of Chợ Rẫy Hospital have become a reliable source of support, a beacon of faith and hope for impoverished patients. — VNS