In addition to the Hoa Vang field hospital for Covid-19 patients, the Da Nang Lung Hospital is designated to provide care and treatment for people with confirmed coronavirus (Covid-19) infection in the city, many of whom are older people with complex comorbidities. Thanks to arduous efforts and great dedication by the hospital staff here, many of seriously-ill hospital patients with Covid-19 have showed their considerable health improvements and tested negative for the virus some times.

Doctors at the Lung Hospital joining a medical consultation briefing to closely monitor Covid-19 patients’ health status

Doctor Le Thanh Phuc, the hospital’ Director said the treatment of Covid -19 patients has been kept on the right track. Till date, some of the 14 seriously ill patients requiring intensive treatment have twice tested negative for the virus, whilst others has become disconnect from ventilators. Recently, the Da Nang Lung Hospital has discharged 5 Covid-19 patients after they had tested negative for the virus between three and five times, and showed full recovery from their illness.

Such encouraging signs have been partly attributed to the work dedication made by the hospital’s medical staff, and also importantly, their mutual professional cooperation with intensive medical experts from such domestically renowned hospitals as Bach Mai and Cho Ray in saving the lives of Covid-19 patients.

The medical staff are divided into separate groups being on duty in 6 separate work shifts per day, with each lasting for 4 hours, thereby ensure around- the -clock care for patients.

The doctors had to begin living away from home behind the closed gate.  All of them tasted life away from their families for the first time.  The lockdown imposed on the Da Nang Lung Hospital overturned their body clock with working time, medical consultation meetings and examining the patients in a 24-hour work schedule. 

Their main concern overwhelming their minds is just how to treat the patients as best they can with a strong determination to fight Covid-19 by every means.

For seriously ill patients with such serious pre-existing conditions as kidney failure, heart failure, diabetes, the sense of time to ‘heroes in white coats’ seems to disappear as their eyes always keep continuously watching the patients’ moves and monitoring signals to bring them back from the brink of death.  As any patient is hanging on by a thread, every minute that passes reduces the chances of survival.

In addition to the use of medical machines, doctors and nurses have to do many other support acts, from back flapping, oral suctioning to physical therapy applications for their virus-affected patients.

Doctor Tran Huu Chinh, who was sent from the Ho Chi Minh City-based Cho Ray Hospital, said, on daily work routine, he must be present in the Lung Hospital’s isolation treatment zone so early in the morning. 

Shortly after a quick medical consultation briefing with the on-call doctors who have been on a nighttime shift, Mr Chinh and his colleagues immediately embark on the treatment of patients in a romp fashion.  Time disappeared in his mind as he had so late and quick lunch and dinner, even sleeping time was broken off when he heard emergency calls.

“Wearing very stuffy protective suits, we must work continuously for many hours in a working environment without air-conditioning during scorching days. Finishing a day of overloaded work, all of us are really exhausted and our clothing is heavily soaked in sweat.  Despite these hardships we now face, we are proud of our contributions to the fight against coronavirus.”, said doctor Chinh.

“For medical workers caring for most severe cases of Covid-19, being frugal with their time and having white nights are their daily requirements. Our happiness every day is merely to see the patients make improvements, or test negative for the virus. We hope that all patients will make full recovery from coronavirus and they will be discharged from hospital. The virus will be eliminated in Da Nang, and Viet Nam at large. That’s the only way home for both medical workers like us and the patients. And we’ll keep fighting to the end”, said another doctor.

By XUAN DUNG – Translated by A.T