Dedicated village health workers

In Bu Linh hamlet (Loc Quang commune, Dong Nai province), there is a woman who has spent over 20 years persistently knocking on doors, acting as a "bridge" to bring the "light" of modern medicine to the ethnic minority people. That woman is Ms. Nguyen Thi Sang, a village health worker in Bu Linh hamlet, who has made a significant contribution to improving the health of the local community.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Sang (far left) reminds Ms. Thi Hue's family to take their young children for vaccinations. Photo: Hanh Dung

"Constant dripping wears away the stone."

In Bu Linh hamlet, 90% of the population are S'tieng ethnic people. More than two decades ago, this place was almost completely isolated from medical services. In the memory of Ms. Thi Hue, a resident of the hamlet, those were years filled with the pain of illness. Of her six siblings, three have died from disease. Most heartbreaking was the case of her older sister, who died from postpartum hemorrhage at home in 2006.

“Back then, nobody knew what vaccines were, nor were they familiar with the local health centers. Most women gave birth at home without receiving any vaccinations. Many died after childbirth. My sister, due to a lack of understanding, didn't go to the local health center but gave birth at home and died from postpartum hemorrhage,” Mrs. Hue recalled.

Outdated customs and a lack of understanding act as a barrier between the ethnic minority people here and modern medicine. That's when Ms. Nguyen Thi Sang began her arduous journey. With only a 9th-grade education, but possessing rare enthusiasm, Ms. Sang chose to dedicate herself to village healthcare work, even though her monthly allowance was only a few tens of thousands of dong. After numerous training sessions, Ms. Sang plunged into the work, facing countless difficulties.

"Many families I approached to encourage them to get their children vaccinated flatly refused. There were families in difficult circumstances who had seven or eight children, and when I brought birth control pills to guide them on family planning, they were met with harsh words, or even chased away," Mrs. Sang recounted.

Despite the difficulties, Mrs. Sang did not lose heart. She chose a gradual approach, speaking gently and intimately, in a way that suited the customs and traditions of the people. She recounted real-life stories, about people who died from illness due to not being vaccinated, and about cases of tetanus infections that resulted from home births without proper sterilization, leading to death… From there, the awareness of the villagers gradually changed.

What's remarkable about Ms. Sang is her thorough knowledge of each household. She remembers the birth year of each child, their vaccination schedule, which families have pregnant women, and who needs family planning counseling… Therefore, when healthcare workers need information and ask the residents, they almost always receive the answer: "I don't know, ask Ms. Sang."

The "sweet fruits" of a challenging land.

The Loc Quang Commune Health Station usually organizes expanded immunization on the 17th of each month. On the evening of the 16th, people in the hamlet see Mrs. Sang cycling to their homes to remind them of the vaccination schedule. Mrs. Sang said she didn't dare inform the villagers early for fear they would forget. For those families who were busy tapping rubber trees and couldn't make it in time, Mrs. Sang compiled a list and went to their homes to remind them to bring their children to the hamlet's cultural center for the make-up vaccination on the 19th.

Ms. Tran Thi Trang, a midwife at Loc Quang Commune Health Station, shared: “During the vaccination campaigns in Bu Linh hamlet, Ms. Sang was always the leader and the most effective persuader of the people. From not knowing what vaccines were, many families in Bu Linh hamlet have proactively brought their children to the health station for complete vaccinations. Heartbreaking stories such as children falling ill, having seizures, and dying because they were not vaccinated have become a thing of the past. While home births still exist, they have decreased significantly compared to before. The houses and living environment of the people have also improved and are much cleaner than before.”

In 2014, Ms. Nguyen Thi Sang was awarded a Commemorative Medal by the Ministry of Health for her work in population management; she also received numerous commendations from the People's Committee of Loc Ninh District (formerly) and the People's Committee of Loc Phu Commune (formerly) for outstanding performance as a village health worker.

Ms. Thi Hue excitedly shared: Thanks to "Ms. Sang's" guidance and regular reminders, her family now understands the importance of vaccination. Her granddaughter, who is 2 years old this year, has received many vaccines such as: tuberculosis, 5-in-1, hepatitis B, and Japanese encephalitis.

Dr. Tran Van Thi, a specialist in internal medicine and head of the Loc Quang Commune Health Station, affirmed: “Village health workers are like an extension of the health station in providing primary healthcare to the people. Without people like Ms. Sang, we wouldn't be able to have such a firm grasp of the area and achieve such high effectiveness. From a hamlet considered a 'blank spot' in vaccination coverage, the rate of fully vaccinated children in Bu Linh hamlet has now increased to over 80%, with some vaccination campaigns at the hamlet's cultural center reaching 100%.”

At 62 years old, with a modest monthly allowance of 720,000 VND, Ms. Nguyen Thi Sang still diligently works in village healthcare. For her, the greatest happiness is the increasing awareness of healthcare among the villagers, resulting in healthier children who are less prone to illness. In particular, many couples have learned to practice family planning to better focus on raising their children.

Hanh Dung

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202604/nhan-vien-y-te-thon-ban-tan-tam-6992689/