Maintaining the medical 'lifeblood' of the Central region during floods

SKĐS - The historic flood at the end of October left Hue City "submerged in water", but Hue Central Hospital still stood firm. Thousands of doctors and nurses worked 24/7 to ensure the medical lifeline of the Central region was not interrupted.

Resilient in the rain and floods

From October 27 to 31, Hue City suffered from exceptionally heavy rain and floods. Floods from the Huong River and the Bo River rose rapidly, causing deep inundation in 32 out of 40 wards and communes of the city. More than 44,500 houses were affected, and thousands of households had to be urgently evacuated.

Located in the area, Hue Central Hospital, the leading specialized medical center in the Central region, was heavily affected. When the water level rose, the hospital's Board of Directors activated an emergency disaster prevention plan, strictly implementing the "four on-site" motto.

The Interventional Cardiology Emergency Department of Hue Central Hospital has maintained continuous operations, receiving and treating many serious cases during the recent flood.

With more than 4,600 inpatients and their families being treated at two facilities, isolated by floodwaters, the entire team of doctors, nurses, technicians and logistics staff are still on duty 24/7, ensuring all medical examination and treatment activities take place smoothly, without any emergency cases being interrupted.

On the evening of October 27, when the floodwaters rose rapidly, the hospital urgently evacuated patients and equipment from lower-level departments such as Dermatology, Pulmonary Diseases, Tropical Diseases, Neurology - Stroke, Pediatric Center, Ear, Nose and Throat, Digestive Surgery, Dentistry, Cardiovascular Center... to the upper floors. Medical records, medicines, and machines were placed high up to ensure safety.

The technical team is on duty to check the electricity system, central oxygen and water supply, which are vital for treatment. Hundreds of staff members are divided into groups to evacuate patients, provide emergency care, operate electricity and oxygen, provide logistics, distribute medicine and food, and work through the night in deep flooding conditions.

On the evening of October 27, Mr. Nguyen Chi Tai, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Vice Chairman of Hue City, was present to direct the police, military and local authorities to support the transportation of medicine and supplies, help move patients, and ensure security and safety for the hospital area.

During the time when floodwaters rose and flooded the hospital, medical staff and authorities moved patients to higher ground to ensure safety.

Even in the middle of the flood season, emergency care is still continuous, safe and effective, without interrupting treatment under any circumstances. Key departments such as the Cardiovascular Center, Stroke Center, Intensive Care Center, and Pediatrics Center are still operating normally. Each surgery and each birth is still carried out safely, demonstrating the resilience and professionalism of the hospital's medical staff.

"Close coordination with functional forces has helped Hue Central Hospital stand firm in the midst of the flood, maintaining the medical "lifeblood" for the people of the Central region," affirmed Prof. Dr. Pham Nhu Hiep, Director of Hue Central Hospital.

For people's health

When the water began to recede on the morning of October 30, disinfection, environmental sanitation, and infection control were carried out simultaneously. The hospital mobilized all staff to coordinate with the police and military forces to clean up, restore infrastructure, check medical equipment, and quickly bring medical examination and treatment activities back to normal.

At the same time, the hospital reviewed the damage, replenished medicine, supplies, and chemicals, replaced equipment damaged by flooding, and ensured food safety in the kitchen, canteen, and patient meal supply points.

From October 27 to November 3, two facilities of Hue Central Hospital received 9,449 patients, including 3,206 inpatients, 757 surgeries, 292 births (167 cesarean sections), and 1,879 hemodialysis cases. During the rainy and flood days, thousands of free meals continued to be provided to patients, their relatives, and medical staff who stayed at work.

Standing member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu presents gifts to Hue Central Hospital and patients being treated at the hospital.

During difficult days, Hue Central Hospital received timely attention and direction from the leaders of the Party, State and Ministry of Health .

On the afternoon of October 30, Politburo member and Standing member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu led a Central working delegation to inspect the flood situation and visit staff and patients at the hospital.

The working delegation praised the efforts of the medical team in maintaining operations in the midst of the flood, and at the same time directed the early overcoming of consequences to stabilize medical examination and treatment work.

On November 2, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen continued to lead the working group to inspect the situation and encourage the staff. The Deputy Minister praised the spirit of "sticking to the job for the patients" and the hospital's proactive and professional coordination in preventing and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters.

Deputy Minister Do Xuan Tuyen presents gifts to Hue Central Hospital.

"The attention of the Party and State leaders, the Ministry of Health, the Hue City government, the support and companionship of agencies, units and kind-hearted people have contributed to giving the hospital more strength to complete its mission of protecting people's health in natural disasters," said Prof. Dr. Pham Nhu Hiep.

Prof. Dr. Pham Nhu Hiep said that over the past 131 years of establishment and development, the hospital has faced natural disasters many times, especially the historic floods in 1999, 2020, and 2023. However, each challenge has deepened the resilience, solidarity, and will to serve the patients of the medical team.

Hue Central Hospital held a meeting to deploy storm and flood response work.

"Ensuring absolute safety for thousands of patients, the perseverance and dedication of doctors during the recent floods once again affirmed the position of the hospital, a resilient "white fortress" in the midst of natural disasters. In the face of the complicated developments of storm No. 13, expected to affect from November 6-9, the hospital continues to proactively deploy a response plan at the highest level," affirmed the Director of Hue Central Hospital.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/giu-vung-mach-song-y-te-mien-trung-trong-mua-lu-16925110417581935.htm