'Brand' of Vietnam Field Hospital

Ten years after the success of the first individuals 'going abroad' to carry out UN peacekeeping missions, for the first time Vietnam deployed a large force in the form of a unit to operate in South Sudan.

Level 2 Field Hospital No. 1 with 63 members (10 women) is the first unit deployed in South Sudan, laying the foundation to build the "brand" of Vietnam Field Hospital, leaving an impression in the hearts of international friends - Photo: BVDC 2.1

In a faraway place, the "blue beret" army has left its mark in the hearts of international friends with the "brand" of Vietnam Field Hospital. Talking to Tuoi Tre, Lieutenant Colonel BUI DUC THANH - Deputy Director of Military Hospital 175, who once held the position of Director of Level 2 Field Hospital No. 1 - shared about the impression of his first deployment in South Sudan (Africa).

Like a family

* At that time, how were the hospital's preparations carried out to deploy a large force to South Sudan to perform a United Nations peacekeeping mission, sir?

Lieutenant Colonel BUI DUC THANH

- To prepare for the deployment of a unit to carry out a UN peacekeeping mission, the expected location being the Republic of South Sudan, the Ministry of National Defense directed the Vietnam Peacekeeping Center (now the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department) with the task of deploying a Level 2 Field Hospital (at that time there was no version number 1). Military Hospital 175 was assigned to manage the number of troops and deploy the framework of the Field Hospital, organizing the staffing according to the proposal of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department. At the end of 2014, Level 2 Field Hospital No. 1 was established. Starting from 2015, the hospital organized two English classes with the first personnel selected from Military Hospital 175 and troops from other units in the Southern region, the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department and the Military Medical Department. For more than 3 years, the hospital has focused on training and performing preparatory work including training, peacekeeping training, logistics assurance work and pre-deployment training. Parallel to the preparation process is the screening process to select qualified people who meet the United Nations' requirements on foreign language proficiency, professional capacity and moral qualities. Finally, the hospital established a framework of 70 people (63 official, 7 reserve). This is one of the first units with the most careful and elaborate preparation ever. Therefore, the viewpoint of the leaders of the Ministry of National Defense and the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department when deploying the first unit is to win and complete the mission assigned by the United Nations. * After more than 3 years of preparation, could you please tell us about the advantages and difficulties in the process of implementing this work? - The first pressure that must be mentioned is the replacement of the UK Level 2 Field Hospital in South Sudan. Before us, they did very well and very professionally. While this is the first force that Vietnam deployed in the form of a unit, we must strive to achieve the same results as your unit. Another difficulty encountered is the mindset of the officers and staff. At that time, only I and a few officers were able to go on a field trip, the rest only knew about South Sudan through the press. Everyone expressed concern about the conflict situation, security issues, including the harsh weather conditions in a land very far from Vietnam. However, thanks to the close leadership and direction of the leaders of the Ministry of National Defense, especially the late Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department and Military Hospital 175, who regularly encouraged the mindset of the officers and staff, promptly resolved the difficulties and problems encountered. Along with that, policies for hospital staff are always given timely attention.

On the side of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department, Military Hospital 175 sent experienced staff in expertise and profession to direct and guide the field hospital. After more than 3 years of working together, eating and living together, the staff of Level 2 Field Hospital No. 1 have created a united block like a family.

With its high capacity, expertise, and excellent service spirit, Vietnam's No. 1 Level 2 Field Hospital has received many patients for medical examination and treatment and physical therapy. In addition to patients from the United Nations, we also welcome local patients with a humanitarian spirit that has created a great resonance.

Colonel Mac Duc Trong (Deputy Director of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department)

The power of unity and sharing

* As the hospital commander, could you tell us about your leadership experiences so that the staff are always united and coordinated in carrying out their tasks? - During the international mission, Level 2 Field Hospital No. 1 always upholds the spirit of caring for and serving patients wholeheartedly and thoughtfully, creating prestige with the United Nations, and is highly appreciated by the mission commander for its professional capacity and working style. To achieve that achievement is thanks to the efforts of 63 staff and the attention, direction and leadership of the Ministry of National Defense and the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department. First of all, we must mention the solidarity among the hospital staff. In South Sudan, the weather conditions are harsh, the sun is hot, the rainy season is flooded with mud, the first 3 months we had to live and work in tents. The more difficult the situation, the more the spirit of solidarity and sharing is multiplied. In South Sudan, water is very rare. Each person's standard is only two bags of drinking water per day, the rest is for bathing and daily activities. Therefore, water is given priority to the women and "reused" for watering vegetables. From small things, solidarity is created in the hospital. But the most successful is the mass mobilization work of the No. 1 Level 2 Field Hospital with its "unique style". Next to the hospital, there are civilian protection areas, every weekend we go to teach literacy, give books, coloring books with images of the red flag with a yellow star, images of President Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap. Those images have left an impression on the hearts of children in South Sudan, whenever they see the red flag with a yellow star on the chest of the officers and soldiers, they shout "Vietnam".

Foundation for next generations

* From the first impressions, in your opinion, what do we need to do to well deploy the next Field Hospital teams, meeting the requirements of the United Nations in the coming time? - In the coming time, what we need to pay most attention to is still the preparation work, while increasing regular exchanges between the hospital in the mission and the hospital that is about to be deployed. The most important thing is still the solidarity between the hospital staff to create a combined strength. Continue to pay attention to the policies and regimes for the staff and officers who go on UN peacekeeping missions. Regarding professional work, the Level 2 Field Hospital must put the safety of patients first, be accurate in medical examination and treatment, and continue to promote the traditional strengths of Vietnamese military medicine in physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Care and treatment for the people of South Sudan

On October 1, 2018, Level 2 Field Hospital No. 1, consisting of 63 members, set out to carry out its mission at the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan, taking over the UK Level 2 Field Hospital. During one year of its mission, the hospital admitted and treated more than 2,000 patients. Of these, many serious cases were operated on and successfully treated, and many serious cases were transported to the rear in a timely and safe manner. In South Sudan from June to September, malaria made many local people worried. Along with that were digestive, respiratory, and trauma diseases. But the most serious were the surgeries. In the surgery in November 2018, right after receiving the handover in the morning, the hospital received a soldier with appendicitis that had serious complications and required immediate surgery. This was the first time the hospital's staff performed surgery in a tent, in a field environment with many shortages of machinery and equipment. Therefore, in every operation, the hospital's staff were very careful to avoid the risk of infection. In early August 2019, the hospital successfully treated and transported a patient with acute necrotizing cholecystitis, complicated by sepsis with multiple organ damage, to a higher level. The results of the activities of Level 2 Field Hospital No. 1 were highly appreciated by the United Nations and a letter of commendation was sent to the Vietnamese Government. Level 2 Field Hospital No. 1 was awarded the Medal for the Cause of United Nations Peacekeeping.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thuong-hieu-benh-vien-da-chien-viet-nam-20240527083700462.htm