On Friday morning, healthcare workers at the Da Nang General Hospital bursted into happiness when seeing the remaining Covid-19 patient in the city be discharged from hospital.

Staff of the Da Nang General Hospital giving medical examination to an infected patient

This good news make the government and people of Da Nang, and those of Viet Nam as a whole, believe that Viet Nam will win the battle against coronavirus. 

Dr Pham Ngoc Ham, Head of the hospital’s the Infectious Disease Ward, said he has never witnessed any infectious disease that is so dangerous to humans, and spreads so quickly like the novel coronavirus over the past dozens of years.

He added since the first cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the city, he and 50 medical workers in his ward have worked tirelessly to treat an outbreak of an illness that none of them had seen before. Since 7 March, they have stayed in the hospital because they are afraid they would bring the coronavirus into their home.

“As the work shift ends, we often sing together in order to beat our homesickness and fear of contracting the deadly virus”, Dr Ham added.

Dr Nguyen Ut, the Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Health, said since Viet Nam reported the first Covid-1 patient in Vinh Phuc Province, the city’s healthcare sector has proactively taken numerous measures to help prevent the spread of the virus in the city.

Having experienced a number of outbreaks of newly emerging diseases such as SARS and Ebola, the Da Nang General Hospital has begun to follow strict infection prevention and control measures in receiving and treating infected patients that meet the World Health Organisation’s standards since early this year.

In addition, the healthcare sector has developed a plan for full deployment and operation of necessary supplies, healthcare personnel and facilities to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Frontline healthcare workers in the city have been grappling with lost time with family members and disruptions to their personal routines and plans. They are sacrificing their health in the battle against the coronavirus.

We are humbled by their immense sacrifices, invaluable dedication, commitment and unwavering efforts in the fight against the pandemic.

By PHAN CHUNG - Translated by MAI DUNG