Dak Lak: The person who keeps the "microbial shield" to protect public health

With nearly 30 years of experience in testing, microbiological research and disease prevention, Dr. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Van (born in 1969), Head of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tay Nguyen Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (Tan An ward, Dak Lak province) has become a typical image of a woman dedicated to her profession, always taking the benefit of the community as her goal.

With her persistent contributions, in 2025, she was honored to receive the Vietnam Women's Award, a noble award from the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union, honoring outstanding female figures in various fields.

Silent dedication

After graduating as a medical doctor from Tay Nguyen University in 1997, Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi Tuyet Van worked at Tay Nguyen Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. Throughout nearly three decades of work and dedication, Doctor Tuyet Van always kept in mind that "To do science, one must be accurate, to do medicine, one must have a heart".

Dr. Tuyet Van is known for her contributions to disease prevention and control in the Central Highlands. Not only does she directly direct, inspect, and supervise, she also participates in training in testing techniques for many infectious diseases such as dengue fever, measles, hand, foot, and mouth disease, and COVID-19.

When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out (2020-2022), the Department of Microbiology and Immunology was one of four units in the system of the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology/Pasteur nationwide that was authorized by the Ministry of Health to conduct SARS-CoV-2 confirmation tests.

Assigned to participate in epidemic prevention and control for 4 former Central Highlands provinces (Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Nong), Dr. Tuyet Van has effectively advised and coordinated with local medical units, contributing to expanding the testing capacity of the region.

By 2022, the Central Highlands region will have 14 COVID-19 testing laboratories; including 9 confirmatory laboratories and 5 screening laboratories, meeting 50,000 test samples/day.

In addition to testing activities, Dr. Tuyet Van also advises and guides the process of sampling, preserving and transporting specimens safely. With her outstanding contributions, she was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Prime Minister for her outstanding achievements in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Sharing about the most stressful period of the epidemic, Dr. Tuyet Van said that the Department of Microbiology and Immunology had 18 staff, while the number of test samples was very large, leading to an overload situation.

Despite the shortage of human resources, she and the staff in the Department have worked tirelessly for more than 12 hours a day, including Saturdays, Sundays and evenings. Thanks to their tireless efforts, specimens are always tested promptly, making an important contribution to the local epidemic prevention and control work.

Dr. Tuyet Van also actively participates in many scientific research topics of high practical value. Notable among them is the topic "Research on changes in Ct values, antibody concentrations in COVID-19 patients in Dak Lak in 2021 and molecular epidemiological characteristics of circulating SARS-CoV-2 strains."

The project won third prize at the 9th Dak Lak Province Technical Innovation Contest, contributing to helping the local health sector reasonably adjust the quarantine and monitoring time after COVID-19 infection, thereby significantly reducing the load on the health system.

Along with research, Dr. Tuyet Van is also a pioneer in standardizing testing systems and quality management according to international standards.

Under her guidance, the Department of Virology was the first unit of the Institute to achieve ISO 15189 certification since 2017 and has maintained it continuously until now at the Department of Microbiology - Immunology.

She also presided over the development of periodic internal and external audit procedures and the application of laboratory management software (LIMS) to reduce errors and optimize testing processes.

In parallel with research activities, Dr. Tuyet Van is also a pioneer in standardizing testing and quality management systems according to international standards.

Under her guidance, the Department of Virology, now the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tay Nguyen Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology became the first unit of the Institute to achieve ISO 15189 certification in 2017 and has maintained it continuously until now.

She also presided over the development of periodic internal and external audit procedures and the application of laboratory management software (LIMS) to reduce errors, improve efficiency and optimize professional processes.

Spread the spirit of charity

Not only is she a dedicated scientist, Dr. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Van is also known by her colleagues as “the keeper of the flame of sharing.” For many years, she and her family have been active members of the “Plate of Rice on the Wall Buon Ma Thuot” program, regularly providing free meals to poor patients and caregivers at hospitals.

On average, each year, her family contributes about 50 million VND, contributing to the program of distributing about 700,000 meals to disadvantaged patients from 2016 to present.

People in Hwe village (Ea Kao commune, Dak Lak province) use clean water from a water filtration system deployed by Dr. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Van and her colleagues. (Photo: VNA)

Not stopping there, in 2021, Dr. Tuyet Van and her colleagues implemented a clean water supply program for the Ede people in Hwe village (Ea Kao commune, Dak Lak province).

The program donated 100 personal water filters with a capacity of 50 liters/day and built a centralized filtration system of 500 liters/day at the community house to supply the remaining households. The activity helped raise awareness among village women about using clean water, contributing to protecting health and improving the quality of life of the people.

Mr. Vien Chinh Chien, Director of the Central Highlands Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, said that Dr. Tuyet Van is an excellent officer with solid expertise, calm but very sociable and responsible.

During nearly 30 years of work, she has been the one to steer the Department of Microbiology and Immunology through many difficult times, especially during major epidemics such as measles, diphtheria, dengue fever, polio and COVID-19.

Under the direction of Dr. Tuyet Van, the COVID-19 testing system in the Central Highlands has been rapidly expanded. In just 6 months, from one initial confirmation testing unit, the region now has 14 SARS-CoV-2 confirmation testing labs. She is also the person who advises on saving and effectively using biological products and medical supplies, helping to reduce the cost of epidemic prevention and control.

Master, Doctor Tuyet Van is a person who does more than talks, is always humble and chooses to contribute silently.

The Vietnam Women's Award 2025 is a worthy recognition for a dedicated scientist who has made important contributions to the Institute's development over the past 50 years, Mr. Chien affirmed.

During her career, Dr. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Van has received 5 Certificates of Merit from the Ministry of Health, many Certificates of Merit from the People's Committee of Dak Lak province, the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and mass organizations.

The Vietnam Women's Award 2025 is a testament to her nearly 30-year journey of relentless efforts./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/dak-lak-nguoi-giu-la-chan-vi-sinh-bao-ve-suc-khoe-cong-dong-post1071035.vnp