The kind heart of a retired female doctor

At 82 years old, Dr. Nguyen Thu Van (residing in Binh Thuong B area, Long Tuyen ward, Binh Thuy district) still diligently participates in charitable medical examination and treatment teams traveling throughout the country to help poor patients. For her, examining and helping people is not only a good deed and a joy, but also the most practical way to spread the medical ethics of a doctor.

Doctor Nguyen Thu Van examines patients at the charity clinic located at 100 Tran Viet Chau Street, An Hoa Ward, Ninh Kieu District.

Dr. Nguyen Thu Van was formerly the Deputy Director of the 30th of April Hospital (old), retiring at the end of 1998. Although no longer working, she continues to contribute to the medical field by participating in numerous charitable medical examination and treatment programs organized by volunteer groups and charitable clinics.

She recounted: Seeing that she was still healthy and able to contribute, from 1998 to 2009, she, along with doctors, colleagues, friends, and Red Cross officials from An Hoi ward, coordinated to organize free medical examinations and provide free medicine to the poor and needy in An Hoi ward and neighboring wards. After that, she joined many other charitable medical teams such as the Can Tho City Retirement Club, Hoang Phap Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City, and the An Nghiep ward senior citizens' group… traveling to remote areas, provinces throughout the country, and even Cambodia. In recent years, she has regularly provided medical services at two locations: the charitable clinic at Hung Loi bridge slope and the charitable clinic at 100 Tran Viet Chau Street, An Hoa ward, Ninh Kieu district.

Over the past 27 years, Dr. Van cannot recount all the places and trips she has participated in to provide free medical care. However, some trips have left unforgettable memories and impressions. A prime example is the trip to three central provinces, where the team had to travel for many days, covering long distances and visiting different places, leaving everyone exhausted and sleeping as soon as they got on the bus. However, thanks to the thoughtful provision of food and water, everyone maintained their health to continue providing medical care to the local people. Another example is the trip to provide medical care to Vietnamese people in Tonle Sap, Cambodia, during the rainy season. Flooding was widespread, and the area lacked clean water, causing many difficulties in daily life. On the way back to Vietnam, the vehicle unfortunately broke down just over 20km from the border crossing. The deserted, desolate roads at night caused great anxiety for the entire team… Fortunately, after waiting until nearly dawn, the vehicle was repaired, and everyone returned home safely. In her stories, alongside the hardships, there is always compassion and sorrow for the unfortunate, the poor patients who lack the means to receive treatment… Therefore, in addition to her hard work, she also sets aside money from her pension and provides laundry services for students renting rooms to contribute to the expenses of her trips, helping to provide a little extra medicine for needy patients.

Perhaps, besides medical ethics and the compassionate heart of a physician, Dr. Thu Van's admirable qualities were also forged during her time participating in revolutionary activities. Born in Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province, at the age of 13, Thu Van left her family to join the revolution. From working as a typist at the Southwestern Regional Party Committee, she was sent to study to become a medical assistant and then worked at the Western Region People's Health Department and later the Can Tho City People's Health Department. After liberation, she continued to hold many important positions in the health sector, was sent to study to become a doctor, and worked at the April 30th Hospital in various positions such as Head of the Obstetrics Department, Head of the Personnel and Organization Department, Deputy Director… until her retirement.

For her dedication, Dr. Van has been awarded numerous medals and decorations for her contributions to the resistance and liberation struggle; many certificates of merit and commendations from various levels and sectors, especially a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister in 2010. Recently, at the beginning of 2025, she was honored to receive the 65-year Party membership badge.

Besides her career, Dr. Van has a loving family with an exemplary husband and four children (one daughter and three sons). Her husband passed away many years ago, and her children have all started their own lives, so she devotes herself even more to charitable work and finds joy in the affection of her friends, colleagues, and patients.

Text and photos: LE THU

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/tam-long-nu-bac-si-ve-huu-a186913.html