Over the past two years, the image of frontline doctors and medical staff “stretching” themselves to fight against COVID-19 has been no longer strange in people's minds. For the time being, while we are adapting to the culture of ‘new normal’ in tandem with living together with the pandemic, those working in the medical sector carry an even greater burden. They have to comprehensively care for hundreds of patients and must be very "still" to support patients amidst their professional pressures, worries and frustrations of patients. Thereby, the noble qualities, medical ethics of self-sacrificing physicians shine even brighter.

A COVID-19 patient (second, left) who has just recovered gives cakes to doctors at Da Nang Hospital. Photo: LE HUNG

Medical staff “cum” meal service staff

Located almost completely separate from the residential area, the COVID-19 field hospital No. 1 at the Student Hall of Residence in the west of the city, Lien Chieu District has been chosen as a place to receive and treat patients with COVID-19 with a scale of more than 2,300 hospital beds. The hospital’s main working force is the medical staff of Da Nang General Hospital and supporters of other units.

Since November 2021, there has been an upward trend in the number of patients becoming more serious since the number of COVID-19 cases increases. According to the assignment of the Ministry of Health, the field hospital No. 1 at the Student Hall of Residence is a facility served to treat severe COVID-19 patients, the elderly, and those having risky underlying diseases.

As shared by Doctor Nguyen Duy Thanh, Department of Gerontology, the Da Nang General Hospital, who is in charge of professional and administrative affairs at Field Hospital No. 1, COVID-19 is now no longer vague and unfamiliar, so medical staff’s psychology and mindset have stabilized to fully devote themselves to the assigned tasks. However, they have currently faced the pressure of treatment, comprehensive care and the pressure of serving patients.

From December 2021, people have to pay for meals themselves during the time receiving treatment of COVID-19. Therefore, medical staff who only need to focus on their professional work suddenly become workers taking care of cooking, logistics and sometimes receiving criticisms coming from somewhere.

It's even sadder owning to the thought of wanting to be served for worth the money they paid of some patients. Many express their attitude to medical staff when sometimes the rice is a bit mushy, the soup is not hot, and the food is not appetizing. "We are definitely sad, but then we encourage each other because we understand that patients also have their suffering," said Dr Thanh

It is understandable if patients are easy to be stressed and tired because they have to live in uncertain temporary days surrounded by inanimate machines serving diagnosis and treatment, the urgent call of medical staff to rescue patients and countless other tired sounds. At that time, they have no one else staying by their side except medical staff, who always accompany patients around the clock in a timely manner.

Medical staff working at the COVID-19 field hospital No. 1 care for Covid-19 patients. Photo: XUAN SON

Tet- so near, yet so far

"The Lunar New Year of the Tiger 2022 is the second year in a row that I don't celebrate Tet with my family in my hometown," said Ms Nguyen Thi Thu Nhan, working at the administrative department of the COVID-19 field hospital No. 1.

Ms Nhan, a native of Quang Ngai Province, has lived and worked in Da Nang for nearly 10 years. At the COVID-19 field hospital No. 1, she is in charge of  patients’ medical examination and treatment costs, verifying and updating the patient's social insurance information

There are loads of days when the number of patients discharged from the hospital is large so medical staff here have to work around the clock, even skip their meals to complete the procedure for patients as soon as possible.

Ms Nhan worked hard every day and her eyes seem to be stuck on the computer screen to update, verify each patient's information. There were days she just wanted to let all go, but the responsibility with thousands of patients held her back. Apart from that, her parents often call to encourage her so that she can drive herself ahead to cope with difficulties

Last year, Ms Nhan stayed in Da Nang at the request of the leaders of Da Nang Hospital, and then hurriedly returned to her hometown after Tet. This year, she has not been able to return, however, coffee, candy, cake and wishes from those having the same mission are enough to create a warm Tet for her.

"I was discharged from the hospital today, my health is stable and I have a negative result for SARS-CoV-2," doctor Nguyen Thi Thao, working in the Department of Respiratory Internal Medicine, Da Nang Hospital, excited “show off" her joy via Zalo after becoming… a reluctant patient. Ms Thao was assigned to work at the COVID-19 field hospital No. 1 since November 2021.

She is in charge of taking care of confirmed cases directly, delivering medicine orders, monitoring nutrition and health, in tandem with motivating patients.

Caring for elderly patients as devoted as taking care of parents

Since January 9, nurse Nguyen Thi Thu Ngan, Department of Infection Control, Da Nang Psychiatric Hospital, serve COVID-9 patients anywhere, anytime at the field hospital. She usually works after noon, mainly taking care of those in serious condition, especially the elderly. She is in charge of changing clothes and helping them do personal hygiene and eating, taking patients to take X-rays, and then receiving supplies from their families.

“I sympathize and feel sorry for the elderly who move difficultly. They have to live far away from their families so we consider the patients as our parents to help them overcome illness. I have not personally witnessed a case of a patient dying due to COVID-19 but I witnessed patients dying because of other diseases. It was a haunting moment and then tormented me for a long time. That's the reason why I choose to stick with this job", Ms Ngan shared.

During the Lunar New Year 2022, Ms Nhan, Ms Thao, Ms Ngan as well as other doctors and nurses citywide celebrated Tet in Da Nang and share the responsibility of repelling COVID-19. Today, on the occasion of The 67^th anniversary of the Vietnamese Doctor's Day (February 27, 1955 - February 27, 2022), beautiful stories, touching images of doctors and medical staff who are quietly taking care of patients around the clock, further prove noble deeds, the sacrifice, dedication and courage of the dedicated physicians.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG - XUAN SON- Translating by T.VY