The silent "mother" in the Nam Son highlands

Midwife Kieu Thi Thuy visits and examines the pregnancy of Ms. Chieu Thi Mai (Nam Ha Trong village, Nam Son commune, Ba Che district) at home.

Recalling the early days of her career, in a place where transportation was difficult and people's awareness of healthcare was limited, the work of a midwife was not only about medical expertise, but also about dedication and tireless efforts.

As a midwife, Ms. Kieu Thi Thuy often takes on deliveries in extremely difficult circumstances, when the mother cannot reach the medical station in time, or emergencies that occur at people's homes in remote villages. Regardless of day or night, Ms. Thuy is ready to go as soon as there is an urgent call, carrying an obstetric first aid kit, crossing deep forests, rocky roads, sometimes walking for kilometers to reach the mother in critical condition.

In those situations, Ms. Thuy is not only a medical staff, but also the one who has to make life-and-death decisions, such as: resuscitation, emergency treatment, establishing an IV line, stopping bleeding... in conditions lacking equipment, lighting, and human resources right at the scene.

The difficulties come not only from the rugged terrain, but also from the backward customs of the people. There were emergency cases where Ms. Thuy had to wait among the crowd performing the ceremony, convincing the pregnant woman's family to trust and allow medical intervention. To help people in remote villages during childbirth, Ms. Thuy had to mobilize the villagers to weave bamboo stretchers, use blankets as cushions, and together with everyone carry the patient through the forest and across streams to the pick-up point. In the face of difficulties and even in the moments of life and death, Ms. Thuy never faltered.

The sense of responsibility, resilience and compassion have become the "luggage" that has accompanied Ms. Thuy for 20 years in her journey of providing reproductive health care for women in the highlands. Ms. Thuy shared: "For me, saving a pregnant woman, successfully assisting a birth, or helping a child cry for the first time in life in safety is the greatest reward". That is probably also the reason why the people here always have deep trust and respect for Ms. Thuy.

Ms. Kieu Thi Thuy guides people to install the Electronic Health Book on mobile phones.

During the Covid-19 outbreak, Ms. Thuy was assigned to work at the Ba Che District Health Department, directly participating in the peak mass vaccination campaign in the province. During the long days of stressful epidemic prevention, Ms. Thuy did not mind the hardship, actively mobilized people, participated in screening and safely vaccinated thousands of people in the highlands. With her tireless efforts, she was awarded a certificate of merit by the Provincial People's Committee.

For the people of Nam Son commune, Ms. Kieu Thi Thuy is not only a midwife, but also a family member. Ms. Chieu Thi Mai (Nam Ha Trong village), who is 7 months pregnant, shared: “Ms. Thuy often comes to my house to ask about me and check my pregnancy. She always gives me detailed instructions and is as caring as a family member. I feel very secure when Ms. Thuy monitors me throughout my pregnancy.”

Talking about his close colleague, Dr. Hoang Van Ba, Head of Nam Son Commune Health Station, said: “Ms. Thuy is a very responsible, dedicated and experienced person. She is always proactive in her work, coordinates well with her colleagues and is especially very close to and loved by the people.”

Now, the roads in Ba Che have been widened, traffic is easier than before, and life here is improving day by day. However, there are things that do not fade with time, such as the dedication of the doctors, the perseverance to overcome difficulties, and the warm humanity in the village. In the beautiful stories about the medical profession in this highland area, Ms. Kieu Thi Thuy is always remembered with pride by the people of Nam Son commune.

Hoai Minh

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/ban-tay-ho-sinh-trai-tim-khong-ngai-gian-kho-3358251.html