A place of humanity and medical ethics
Early Friday afternoon, when the blue door of the A. Yersin Charity Clinic opened, familiar footsteps quietly entered. Most of the people coming for check-ups were the elderly, the poor, single people, and people who could not afford health insurance. There were people over 90 years old who still came for check-ups and to get medicine. Without needing any guidance, each person found a chair to wait for their turn to be called, with a medical examination book in hand. Flipping through many books, some people came for check-ups since 2015.
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| Doctor Nguyen Ngoc Hien examines and guides patients on elderly health care. |
Inside the clinic, tables, chairs, medicine cabinets... are all neatly arranged, modest, warm. The reception staff, nurses, doctors, pharmacists, a total of only 4 people, take on many roles: reception, asking about illness, measuring blood pressure, prescribing, and dispensing medicine. Sitting waiting to be called, Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan (over 75 years old, Nha Trang ward) said that 5 years ago, she and her friend were washing dishes for a restaurant near Dam Market when her friend showed signs of having a stroke. She took her friend to find a place to get treatment and passed by the A.Yersin Charity Clinic. Seeing the name of the charity clinic, she immediately pulled in. Here, her friend was treated with care by the doctor, and then taken to the hospital for further treatment. Witnessing these things with her own eyes made Ms. Lan very emotional. “At that time, I was so nervous that I took my friend there because we were both suffering the same, neither of us had any money. Luckily, I found this clinic and my friend was saved. From then on, I came here to get examined and get medicine for any illness. The clinic has become a support for poor people like me whenever I am sick,” Ms. Lan confided.
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| The patient had blood drawn for testing. |
Every two weeks, nun Nguyen Thi Hue of Tinh Quang Pagoda (North Nha Trang Ward) comes to the clinic to check her health and get medicine. Unlike previous times, this time, in her medical record book, there is also a blood test result. Nun Nguyen Thi Hue boasts: "Two weeks ago, patients who came here for a check-up had their blood tested for free. Today, they came for a check-up and received the results right away. With the test result, the doctor showed the nun more clearly about the diseases and gave her instructions on how to eat and drink to prevent them." This is the nun's sixth year of being examined and treated here. Her health is more stable than before. "Although the medical examination and treatment are free, the medical team here is very dedicated. This place not only examines and treats diseases but is also full of humanity," said nun Nguyen Thi Hue.
On the waiting benches, when asked, many people said that the clinic is not only a place for medical examination and treatment but also a place to place their trust. When the doctor patted their shoulder to encourage them, when the pharmacist carefully instructed them on how to use the medicine, they felt the understanding and listening from the doctors and nurses to the patients. As the last patient to leave the clinic, Mrs. Tran Thi My Linh (Suoi Hiep commune) groped her way to the bus stop to catch a bus home. At the age of 79, she still quietly takes the bus every month to see a doctor. Mrs. Linh shared that she has been examined and received free medicine here for nearly 8 years. Thanks to the clinic, she feels more secure when facing old age diseases.
Wholeheartedly for the sick
After decades of practicing medicine, at the age of 81, instead of resting, when he heard that the clinic was short of staff, Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Hien - a former doctor at Khanh Hoa General Hospital, volunteered to work at the clinic. Without saying much about himself, when asked, Dr. Hien only worried: "Coming here to examine, I feel sorry for the people, many people are suffering! It's just a pity that it's a charity clinic, the medicine is collected from donors, so there are some diseases that don't have medicine to provide. If there were more doctors, nurses, and medical students who volunteered to support, the clinic could open a few more days so that people have the opportunity to come to the clinic more often. As for me, as long as I'm healthy, I'll continue to examine people."
Having examined patients here twice, Dr. Nguyen Kim Nam - Department of Intensive Care - Anti-Poison, Yersin General Hospital Nha Trang, worried: "There are many patients here with very difficult circumstances. Most of them are elderly, have many underlying diseases, some have to collect scrap metal, sell lottery tickets to make a living. The clinic does not have paraclinical equipment, so I have guided some patients to the hospital for more in-depth examination and check-up. But then I don't know if they are qualified to go to the hospital for examination or not." From those concerns, as Secretary of the Youth Union of Yersin General Hospital Nha Trang, Dr. Nam is planning to build a plan to call on union members and young people of the hospital to support transporting patients from the clinic to the hospital for more in-depth examination.
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| Give medicine to patients. |
In the outer room, three volunteers of the clinic, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Hong, Ms. Tran Thi Nam Huong, Ms. Nguyen Thi Dong Tuyen, quietly do their work. One takes blood to measure blood sugar for patients, one sorts and dispenses medicine according to prescription, one kindly guides patients to the examination room... Over the years, contributing to bring health to patients is the greatest reward they have received when working here.
The idea of a charity clinic named after Dr. Alexandre Yersin came from the Association of Admirers of Dr. A. Yersin. In 1993, the Department of Health granted the association a license to establish the A. Yersin Charity Clinic at No. 11, Sinh Trung Street. Initially, the clinic operated in conditions lacking equipment, medicine, and human resources. However, thanks to the compassion and perseverance of the volunteer medical team here, the clinic gradually became a support for health care for many difficult circumstances.
Specialist II Doctor Nguyen Thi Phuong Mai - Vice President of the Association of Admirers of Doctor A. Yersin said: “The clinic has 4 volunteers, without salary or allowance. Because the number of volunteers often fluctuates and the number of patients coming for examination is not as high as before, in recent years, the clinic has opened 2 afternoons/week, on Monday and Friday. On average, each session has from 20 to 30 patients coming for examination. Currently, together with Doctor Nguyen Ngoc Hien, the clinic has support from the medical team and doctors from Yersin Nha Trang General Hospital. Notably, in September 2025, with the connection of the association, a private testing unit has accompanied to support free testing for patients. Such support is very valuable, helping to maintain and extend the clinic's humanitarian mission."
Despite the hustle and bustle of life, A.Yersin Charity Clinic still lies humbly in the heart of the coastal city, quietly sowing seeds of love for over 30 years. There is faith, heart and the power of volunteer connection of the community, always opening its arms to welcome patients in difficult circumstances to come for examination and treatment.
C.DAN
Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/xa-hoi/202510/tien-toi-dai-hoi-thi-dua-yeu-nuoc-tinh-khanh-hoa-lan-thu-i-giai-doan-2025-2030-anh-sang-thien-nguyen-giua-pho-bien-cee15fb/
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