During his inspection visit to the Da Nang Lung Hospital on Friday, State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc underlined a must-do for the city to give its top priority to the strict practice of COVID-19 prevention measures.

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivering his instructions at the Friday inspecting visit. Photo: NGOC PHU

He was accompanied by Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang,  Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son and municipal People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh.

The Da Nang Lung Hospital is the only medical facility in the city to treat COVID-19 imported cases in accordance to the local healthcare sector's guidance.

Delivering his brief report to the State President, doctor Le Thanh Phuc, the hospital’s Director, said that 58 COVID-19 patients are being treated at the hospital, of whom 14 have tested negative for the virus thrice.  

All visits, examinations, contacts and treatment always comply with the mandatory regulations of the Ministry of Health on COVID-19 prevention and control.

In its efforts to improve efficiency in the diagnostic process, the hospital is promoting the Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 test, a rapid, real-time RT-PCR test intended for the qualitative detection of nucleic acid from the SARS-CoV-2 in upper respiratory specimens.

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc inspecting the treatment of Covid-19 patients at the Da Nang Lung Hospital through the camera system. Photo: NGOC PHU

Chairman Chinh said that the local authorities have actively developed plans and specific scenarios to prepare for any sudden resurgences of the coronavirus.

In particular, the municipal administration has suspended all planned-to-be-held cultural events with large gatherings celebrating the Reunification Day (April 30) and Labour Day (May 1) holidays across the city until further notice in a bid to prevent a possible resurgence of COVID-19.

For his part, Secretary Quang said that, in the coming time, the city will focus on upgrading major facilities at the hospital. In particular, he expressed his wish that the State President and the Ministry of Health would mull over the issuance of new specific policies for the Da Nang healthcare sector, and the Lung Hospital in particular, so that the healthcare system would be synchronised across the country.

In particular, the city Party chief asked for support given to the establishment of the Da Nang Hospital for Tropical Disease meeting the growing demand for specialised treatment.

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc presenting gifts to the staff of the Da Nang healthcare sector and the Lung Hospital. Photo: NGOC PHU

Delivering his specific instructions, State President Phuc asked the city to uphold the spirit of “fighting the pandemic like fighting the enemy " strategy in a prompt yet effective manner to keep the the coronavirus out of Da Nang.

In addition to the current Health Ministry-mandated 5K (in Vietnamese) motto: namely ‘Khau trang’ (Face mask) – ‘Khu khuan’ (Disinfection) – ‘Khoang cach’ ‘Distance’ - ‘Khong tu tap’ (No gatherings) – ‘Khai bao y te’ (Health Declaration), he proposed another ‘must-do’ to prevent any illegal entries into Viet Nam.

With regard to vaccination plans, State President Phuc also suggested that Da Nang should proactively call for investments in society in order to deploy inoculation drives on a large scale, contributing to preventing the unexpected spread of COVID-19.

Also, State President Phuc asked the Ministry of Health to mull over the proposal on forming the Hospital for Tropical Diseases and make plans for building a synchronous healthcare system in Viet Nam.

Reporting by NGOC PHU  - Translating by A.T