The patient is in pain, and I am in pain too.

Dr. Le Thanh Nga, born in 1979, currently resides in Tang Nhon Phu Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. As a child, she suffered from mitral valve regurgitation and chronic pharyngitis, requiring frequent hospital visits. Therefore, Dr. Nga chose to study medicine first to care for herself, and later to help patients in difficult circumstances.

Dr. Nga (wearing a hat) distributes free meals to poor patients.

In 1998, Dr. Nga and some friends founded a volunteer medical group for the poor. The members were mainly medical students, so the group's main activity at that time was caring for seriously ill patients who lived far away and lacked financial means. After many years working at Military Hospital 175 , Dr. Nga had more opportunities to interact with poor patients whose circumstances were very pitiable, which further motivated her to help them even more.

Although she has retired from her job at the hospital, Dr. Nga and her group members still regularly come to the hospital's charity kitchen at 4:30 PM every Sunday to cook and distribute porridge to poor patients. Approximately 300 servings of nutritious porridge are handed directly to poor patients and their families. In addition, for over a decade, the volunteer medical group for the poor has also been cooking free porridge and rice for poor patients, the homeless, and impoverished laborers at 63 Man Thien Street (Tang Nhon Phu Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) and at the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, Branch 2.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russian doctor couple had planned to build a free shelter for poor patients. However, due to the dangerous pandemic, they spent all their savings supporting disease prevention and control efforts. Nevertheless, after the pandemic subsided, the couple decided to borrow money from the bank to build the shelter, as it was their shared aspiration.

Traditional medicine practitioner Do Huynh Van Huy, husband of Dr. Nga, currently working at An Phuoc Saigon General Hospital, shared: "We work together in almost everything, especially building free accommodation to support poor patients. When my wife said, 'Let's build a guesthouse,' even though we didn't have money at the time, I immediately agreed."

A home of human kindness

The "Zero-Cost Accommodation" project commenced in December 2021 on a 300m² plot of land at 340/14 Long Phuoc Street (Long Phuoc Ward, Ho Chi Minh City). It's not just an ordinary house, but also a place where human kindness converges. Exactly one year after construction began, the accommodation was inaugurated with a total value of approximately 10 billion VND.

The free accommodation facility is always crowded with poor patients seeking refuge there.

Despite spending such a large sum of money to support poor patients, what Dr. Nga and her husband received in return were the happy smiles of their patients and the improvement in their health, just as President Ho Chi Minh taught medical staff: "A good doctor must be like a loving mother." "I deeply understand President Ho Chi Minh's teachings, so I always remind myself that I must strive to learn from and follow his moral example, making every effort, and the more difficult the situation, the more I must strive to excel and contribute," Dr. Nga confided.

In addition to beds for patients to rest, common areas, and a kitchen, the accommodation also has green spaces where patients can relax and heal from the emotional trauma of battling illness for extended periods.

According to Doctor Nga, the shelter can accommodate about 40 patients and their families at the same time. People who come here not only receive free accommodation but also assistance with food and treatment using traditional medicine. Most importantly, it relieves the financial burden on poor patients, as most of them are from distant areas.

Traditional medicine practitioner Do Huynh Van Huy said: "Whenever patients come to our free accommodation, I review their medical records. From that, I know what disease the patient has, what their condition is, and I will advise on treatment using traditional or modern medicine. To the best of our ability, my wife and I will treat them free of charge to help them recover as quickly as possible."

In addition, over the years, the Volunteer Medical Group for the Poor has carried out many other charitable activities such as supporting and caring for lonely elderly people, disabled people with particularly difficult circumstances, providing counseling and support to women and children who have been abused or assaulted, awarding scholarships to poor but studious students, building charity houses, building bridges for the community, providing free medical consultations, treatment, and medicine to people in remote areas, and most recently, opening a "Zero-Cost Clinic" for poor patients.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Hieu, from Long Phuoc ward, shared: “Previously, I fell off my motorbike and had to have my leg tendons reattached, but I still couldn't walk normally. The doctor said my leg couldn't be treated medically anymore and only physical therapy was possible. Knowing about the 'Zero-Cost Clinic' run by doctors Huy and Nga, which specializes in helping the poor, I sought their help. After a period of treatment using traditional medicine, I can now walk normally. Although they only open from 5 PM to 8 PM daily, I see that doctors Huy and Nga examine and treat over 40 patients each day.”

Community initiatives

In 2024, the Volunteer Medical Group for the Poor collaborated with the former Thu Duc City Social Welfare Center to implement a model for caring for elderly people living alone, disabled people in difficult circumstances, and women and children who have been abused or subjected to violence. The model received widespread support from philanthropists, creating a ripple effect in the community.

Dr. Nga, representing the volunteer medical team for the poor, received the 2023 National Volunteer Award.

"The group, together with the Thu Duc City Social Security Center, reviewed and compiled a list of elderly people living alone, people with disabilities, women and children who have been abused or subjected to violence, especially elderly people living alone with particularly difficult circumstances, identifying each situation, target group, and plan for implementing a sustainable care support model," Ms. Nga said.

Specifically, the program is organized on the 10th of every month. The group, in coordination with philanthropists and local authorities, organizes visits and gift-giving, with each gift worth 500,000 VND, as well as providing free house cleaning and medical care for the elderly. The program has been running for 7 months, supporting dozens of elderly people, women, and children. Recently, Ms. Nga has organized several other fundraising initiatives that have created a strong community impact, such as selling herbal drinks and books.

For the past 27 years, Dr. Nga has spent New Year's Eve... on the streets. This is because, at the very moment of transition between the old and new year, the group led by Dr. Nga goes to give gifts to the homeless and the poor who cannot afford to go home for Tet (Lunar New Year). These small gifts at this sacred moment soothe the sadness and loneliness of these impoverished laborers.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/cuoc-thi-nhung-tam-guong-binh-di-ma-cao-quy-lan-thu-17/nu-bac-si-gan-30-nam-lam-viec-thien-1041281