Good medical news from Con Dao special zone

On September 11, according to information from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, a newborn weighing 2.95 kg was safely delivered in the delivery room of the Con Dao Military-Civilian Medical Center, instead of having to go to the mainland to wait for delivery as before. A few days earlier, also at this medical center, general surgeons from Binh Dan Hospital had coordinated to successfully perform emergency surgery, saving the life of a 17-year-old male youth who had been in a traffic accident.

This good news further affirms the humane policy of Ho Chi Minh City leaders: Developing healthcare in Con Dao is not only for the welfare of the island's residents but also a strategic task of the expanded Ho Chi Minh City.

Con Dao Special Zone currently has about 14,000 permanent residents, receiving more than 400,000 tourists each year. However, health care here is still difficult. In the past, pregnant women in their 7th month of pregnancy were almost forced to leave the island to wait for delivery on the mainland, which was both costly and potentially risky. Many cases of tourists and fishermen having medical problems had to be transported by sea or air in difficult conditions, but now, right in Con Dao Special Zone, many critical cases have been saved when there are specialized doctors from major hospitals in the city taking turns to work and provide health care.

The recent successful medical treatments have contributed to narrowing the gap between the mainland and the islands, but they cannot hide the reality: The medical capacity in Con Dao special zone is still limited. The medical infrastructure is not really synchronized, equipment is lacking and not modern, the on-site medical team still needs to be trained and improve their expertise regularly. Without support from major hospitals, many serious cases will still have to be transferred to other hospitals, facing high risks due to the long distance and weather-dependent travel conditions.

At a recent working session with Con Dao Special Zone, Comrade Nguyen Phuoc Loc, Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, affirmed: Developing healthcare in Con Dao is not only for the welfare of the islanders but also a strategic task of the expanded Ho Chi Minh City. This is a step that demonstrates political responsibility, profound humanity, and is consistent with the city's development orientation after the merger.

An island medical center cannot stop at the level of regular medical examination and treatment, but needs to have a modern operating room, a standard emergency resuscitation area, and adequate diagnostic imaging and testing equipment to be ready to respond to serious cases. In addition, it must invest in human resources. Leading specialists are ready to rotate to work in Con Dao special zone - that is a positive signal, but in the long term, there needs to be a strong enough policy to attract and retain good medical personnel, while creating opportunities for advanced training for the on-site team.

The medical capacity on the island will only be truly sustainable when the team of doctors and nurses here can confidently handle most emergency situations without having to rely entirely on the upper level. In addition, building a doctor rotation mechanism into a stable policy, with a roadmap and a worthy treatment regime. Working on the island is not only a responsibility, but should be seen as a special contribution, recognized and encouraged.

When the special economic zone's healthcare develops, taking care of people's health, contributing to ensuring security and national defense, and being a fulcrum for sustainable tourism and service development, it will be an affirmation of the will, responsibility and strategic vision of the Central Government and Ho Chi Minh City towards the sacred sea and islands of the Fatherland.

THANH AN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tin-vui-y-te-tu-dac-khu-con-dao-post812672.html