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"Mother" of the babies in the incubator
We spoke with Dr. Pham Thi Ngoc Han, Head of the Pediatrics Department at the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital in Dong Hoi, right in the Pediatric Intensive Care and Toxicology Unit, just as she finished monitoring the administration of medication to a premature baby weighing over 800 grams who had just been admitted to the intensive care unit. Seeing the tears rolling down the faces and the hopeful gazes of the family members, along with the hurried footsteps of the doctors and nurses in the ward, we truly felt the ferocity of the battle to save these tiny lives teetering on the brink of death. Just as emotions were about to overflow, Dr. Han gently brought me back to the conversation. She said, "This is just our daily work."
The Pediatrics Department is responsible for providing healthcare to all pediatric patients from birth to 16 years old. However, perhaps the most intense and emotionally charged battle for the lives of premature babies is the fight for survival. They have experienced moments of overwhelming joy when babies are strong enough to be handed back to their mothers, and then moments of profound difficulty when they must sadly let go of these tiny angels as they depart from this world.
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Without even looking through the medical records, Dr. Han still remembers vividly every premature baby treated here, because each child is a story of hardship. One such case involved twins conceived through in-vitro fertilization from Le Thuy. When born, one weighed 730 grams, the other only 670 grams. But these two tiny warriors, along with their "mother" Han and the aunts, uncles, and other staff in the department, bravely fought for over three months and overcame all their illnesses despite their critical condition.
Now, both children are over two years old, developing well, agile, and healthy. Another case is that of a baby boy in Bo Trach weighing 1.2 kg. At birth, his heart stopped for 30 minutes, and doctors raced against time to revive him. During treatment, he suffered many severe complications, at times seemingly on the verge of death. But after more than a month of persistent effort by doctors in the Pediatrics and Surgery departments, he miraculously recovered and was discharged from the hospital, much to the overwhelming joy of his family.
| Director of the Vietnam National Hospital for Pediatrics and Neonatology, Nguyen Duc Cuong, couldn't help but speak proudly about his staff member: "As a resident physician specializing in pediatrics and neonatology, Dr. Pham Thi Ngoc Han has been the 'driving force' leading the Pediatrics Department to achieve many accomplishments in the care and treatment of pediatric patients for many years. Especially with premature babies, with her deep expertise, advanced techniques, perseverance, and compassionate heart, Dr. Pham Thi Ngoc Han is like a second 'mother,' reviving these tiny babies and bringing joy and trust to many families in the hospital." |
The Vietnam National Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynecology is a general hospital, so there is smooth and close coordination between departments, especially between the Pediatrics Department and the Obstetrics Department. Upon receiving a call from the Obstetrics Department, regardless of the time, the doctors in the Pediatrics Department immediately assist in delivering the baby right after birth. Dr. Han recounted: “Once, we received a call at 5 a.m. from the Obstetrics Department inviting the pediatric team to the operating room to deliver a premature baby who had slipped and fallen into another baby's arm. Recognizing the emergency, the on-call team rushed into the operating room even before the mother's skin was incised. The tense moments were filled with the obstetrician's best efforts to deliver the baby. The umbilical cord was tightly wrapped four times; the obstetrician held their breath as they untangled it… A limp, cyanotic body, showing no signs of life. With intense concentration, we performed every action with precision down to the second. Finally, happiness erupted when we heard the baby's first cry. Battles like these happen daily, and we doctors are always ready to face them with the utmost urgency. Thanks to this, in the last 10 years, the Pediatrics Department has successfully treated and nurtured over 200 premature babies, bringing faith and hope to many families.”
Sharing the joys and sorrows with HIV/AIDS patients.
The Quang Binh Center for Disease Control (CDCQB) is currently managing and treating 352 HIV patients throughout the province. In 2023 alone, 20 new HIV-positive cases were detected through screening, four more than in 2022. HIV patients are increasingly being diagnosed at younger ages.
Dr. Duong Thi Be, Deputy Head of the Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Substance Addiction Treatment at the CDCQB, stated that ARV treatment is crucial for patient health and HIV/AIDS prevention and control. ARV is an anti-HIV drug that inhibits viral replication, maintaining the lowest possible viral load in the blood. Most people infected with HIV who are receiving ARV treatment remain healthy, able to work, study, and have happy families…
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As the only female doctor accompanying HIV patients for over 10 years, in addition to advising on treatment, Dr. Bé is also a trusted friend, sister, and confidant for patients to confide in, helping them overcome difficulties in life, especially those going through puberty and experiencing psychological and physiological changes. Receiving her sharing and dedicated care gives HIV patients more motivation for long-term treatment. Gradually, they come to see her as family, confiding all their thoughts and feelings in life. From being confused and desperate, many HIV patients have gradually improved their health, participated in work, and become useful members of their families and society after receiving advice and treatment from Dr. Bé.
Or, when HIV/drug addict patients undergoing Methadone treatment resist, abandon treatment, or threaten others, Dr. Bé and her colleagues, through persistent and gentle persuasion, help the patients cooperate and actively participate in treatment. "Having accompanied HIV patients for a long time, listening to their stories and sharing their joys and sorrows, we no longer see any distance between us. Instead, we think of them as sisters, brothers, and friends facing difficulties and despair in life who need more care and support. Seeing patients regain their health and joy of living motivates us to work even harder," Dr. Bé shared.
According to Dr. Bé, HIV antiviral drugs are now readily available to patients. With continuous treatment, patients live healthy, normal lives. In Quang Binh, most HIV patients have been and are maintaining first-line treatment, with only a few switching to second-line treatment. When the viral load is low and below the suppression threshold, the rate of transmission is also very low. Some women have expressed a desire to have children when they feel healthy, and Dr. Bé has provided support and advice on preventive treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy. In particular, Dr. Bé and her colleagues closely monitor and are present during childbirth at the hospital to administer preventive medication to the babies immediately after birth. Thanks to adherence to the treatment regimen, some children born to HIV-infected mothers are completely healthy.
However, the biggest obstacle today remains stigma, causing HIV patients to feel inferior and ashamed, preventing them from integrating into the community. “There are still many lives and stories of HIV patients facing difficulties who desperately need attention and support through social assistance policies, such as vocational training, job creation, helping them stabilize their lives, overcome their stigma, and live meaningful lives… and more importantly, contributing to reducing the rate of HIV/AIDS,” Dr. Bé hoped.
Persistently "entering the world of mentally ill patients"
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Having become all too familiar with the sight of patients in disheveled, smelly clothes, and agitated states, healthcare workers constantly face the risk of injury. But transforming fear into compassion for these unfortunate individuals, Dr. Hanh gently and patiently persuades patients to follow the prescribed treatment plan. Besides patients brought to the clinic, in many difficult cases, Dr. Hanh and her colleagues have to go to the patients' homes to provide support, as these patients often exhibit aggressive and uncooperative behavior, making it impossible for their families to take them for examination and treatment.
It's impossible to remember how many families with mentally ill members she's helped over the years she's been in the profession, but Dr. Hanh knows each patient's case and treatment level intimately. Dr. Hanh recounts: “A while ago, a father over 70 years old brought a young man in his 30s, traveling over 400km from a mountainous district in Thua Thien-Hue province to Quang Binh to see me and treat his son. Despite taking medication and receiving treatment at the hospital, the patient still couldn't sleep and was in a state of panic. After more than an hour of conversation and treatment consultation, the father and son left. Watching them leave, continuing their journey back to Hue that night, our hearts were heavy. The next day, we received a call from the father. He said his son was much better. That alone warmed the hearts of us in this profession.”
Having graduated with a Level I Specialist Certificate in Psychiatry, Dr. Hanh has examined and treated countless patients, helping many to stabilize and reintegrate into the community. Each patient has a unique story and circumstance. After 20 years in the profession, her greatest wish is for the field of psychiatry to receive more attention and support. Many cases of mental illness are truly heartbreaking and require the collective effort and assistance of the community. “If any family has a mentally ill person who is resistant and doesn’t know how to get them examined, please contact the CDCQB for advice and support, or call me directly anytime: 0912130177,” Dr. Hanh shared.
Director of CDCQB, Do Quoc Tiep, affirmed: Doctors Hoang Thi Hanh and Duong Thi Be are among the few female doctors at CDCQB who undertake work in specialized fields (psychiatry and HIV/AIDS). They are not afraid of difficulties, hardships, or even the ever-present risks, and are dedicated to their profession, showing love and compassion to patients as if they were family, creating trust so that patients can feel secure in their long-term treatment. Regardless of the difficult circumstances, these female doctors have never neglected their work, always wholeheartedly serving their patients and readily responding when patients need assistance. They are shining examples and sources of inspiration for every officer, employee, and worker at CDCQB to strive to fulfill their duties in protecting and caring for the health of the people. |
Inner City
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