Vietnamese peacekeepers: mission accomplished despite COVID-19

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“It was when flight C17 landed at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi after taking off from Juba, the capital of South Sudan, that touched me the most. My joy to return to my country and to be reunited with my family after almost 18 months of absence was immeasurable … “, shares Cao Thuỳ Dung, head nurse of the Level 2 Field Hospital No. 2, after returning to Vietnam on April 24, 2021 with his colleagues.

“When we learned that the hospital and its staff needed to stay longer in the region, naturally many of us felt depressed,” admits Captain and Doctor Nguyên Viêt Phuong, head of the Internal Department and Infectious Diseases, also head of the COVID-19 treatment team at this field hospital.

“At that point, we didn’t know when we could return. But as soldiers, we quickly pulled ourselves together and clearly defined our new mission. We understood that it was common for the peacekeepers of the peace to extend their missions under normal conditions, so doing so during a pandemic was not unusual, “ he adds.

Overcome the health crisis

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Peacekeepers from Level 2 Field Hospital No. 2 greet loved ones before their departure for South Sudan in November 2019. Photo : Duong Giang/VNA/CVN

COVID-19 first hit South Sudan in April 2020 and Level 2 Field Hospital No.2 faced a shortage of medical equipment and supplies from the start. Goods from Vietnam began to dry up, while local resupply was not possible due to the closure of South Sudan’s borders and the suspension of international and domestic flights.

South Sudan is severely affected by a decade of conflict, with people’s lives facing hardship and poor health conditions. The country was already quite fragile even before the COVID-19 “tsunami”. “We had to spare every mask and every drug to ensure pandemic prevention and treatment of patients. And we knew that the number of patients would increase sharply as the pandemic spread,” remembers Lieutenant-Colonel and Doctor Vo Van Hiên, Director of the Level 2 Field Hospital No. 2.

This Vietnam establishment was deployed at Bentiu, a site known for its difficult conditions. Here, UN officers constantly take turns between units, potentially increasing the risk of contagion. The lack of facilities and medical equipment to screen for COVID-19 has also worsened the situation, not to mention that environmental hygiene remains generally poor.

In view of these difficulties, the Level 2 Field Hospital No.2 established a quarantine camp with the necessary medical equipment, ready at any time to perform emergency medical procedures, receive and treat patients with the disease. of COVID-19.

“Despite the shortcomings and difficulties, the hospital hotline remained open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so that all cases could be reported,” let Mr. Hiên know.

The hospital frequently held training sessions as well as drills for emergency situations. He created a safety protocol for all hospital staff and officers. He also drew up combat readiness plans to ensure the safety of his personnel in the event of danger.

Recalling an unforgettable memory of his 18 months in Bentiu, when a Mongolian officer was diagnosed with pleural tuberculosis, Dr. Nguyên Viêt Phuong shares that according to UN protocols, this soldier should normally have been transferred to a hospital in higher level or even sent home. But given the circumstances, he had to stay in the country and was treated in the hospital itself. His condition improved significantly with the necessary adequate treatment. This delighted not only the patient, but also the entire Mongolian battalion, who expressed their gratitude to the Vietnamese doctors.

“He was the most serious patient in the hospital, informs Doctor Phuong. Considering the lack of equipment, we all worked together to give him the best possible treatment. “

Thanks to its effective medical contributions, the Level 2 Field Hospital No. 2 has received much praise from the management bodies of the United Nations Mission in Juba and Bentiu.

Willingness to accomplish the mission

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Vietnamese peacekeepers during a refresher course on first aid before their departure for South Sudan. Photo : TT/CVN

Returning to Vietnam in safety, the hospital staff will never forget the days spent in such difficult working conditions. The onset of the global pandemic quickly became the greatest challenge for all United Nations peacekeeping operations around the world, in South Sudan in particular.

Hospital staff sometimes felt confused and worried when the political and security situation in the region became tense and the pandemic more complex, or when members of the hospital or relatives in their homes fell ill.

Faced with these trials and challenges, medical peacekeepers united to overcome them and maintain international peace and security, a noble mission for the Vietnam People’s Army.

“In Bentiu, despite the many difficulties we have faced, such as the pandemic or being away from home in a difficult and austere environment for a long time while facing equipment shortages, we still have kept in mind the famous motto of the People’s Army of Vietnam + Each mission will be completed, each difficulty overcome + ”, expresses Deputy Captain and Doctor Tu Quang, head of the hospital’s air rescue team.

After 18 months away from their families and homes, President Ho Chi Minh’s peacekeepers are extremely proud to have been part of this heroic mission of the military and Vietnam. A sacrifice and a dedication particularly worthy of pride for Vietnamese women soldiers.

“It is a great honor for me to be a soldier of the People’s Army of Vietnam, to take part in international tasks and to help protect the Motherland, says the head nurse, Cao Thùy Dung. It gave me a chance to strengthen the prestige and position of the country as well as the image of Vietnamese women in the eyes of international friends “.

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