There have been 60 patients discharged from the hospital, hundreds of critically ill patients are gradually recovering. Many smiles are brought to patients’ faces.
Severe and critical patients are treated at the Intensive Care Center for COVID-19 patients
“We owe all the doctors here..”
In the treatment area for well-resuscitated patients and for those who are about to be discharged from the hospital of the Intensive Care Center for COVID-19 patients, which is mainly operated by Hue Central Hospital (Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City), the pain and fear on the patient's faces were gradually replaced with bright smiles.
Mr. Nguyen Hao (born in 1926, in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City) is the oldest patient who unfortunately suffered from severe COVID-19, but now miraculously recovered. Doctors expect that in about 2 more days, he will be discharged from the hospital to return to his family.
Few people know that, on the day he was transferred, his condition was "clutching at straw". Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong (born in 1972, Mr. Hao's daughter) recalled that she and Mr. Hao were being treated for COVID-19 at another hospital in the area then his condition suddenly worsened.
On August 31, both of them were transferred to the Intensive Care Center for COVID-19 patients in Tan Phu district. Receiving treatment and intensive care from the medical team, Ms. Phuong quickly defeated the disease. After being discharged from the hospital, she asked to stay to take care of her father, as a way of returning the favor and sharing difficulties with the doctors.
“When my father and I were moved here, the whole family thought about the worst. During the days when I was hospitalized, I was not worried about myself, but worried more about my father. Father was old and weak, we were afraid that he could not get over it. After that, my father and I gradually got better. From the first day after being transferred here, my father recovered quickly. When I heard that my father would be discharged from the hospital in about 2 days, I was so happy, I kept thanking the doctors. I did not know how to return the favor to those who saved us…”.
Mrs. Ho Thi Nhu (54 years old) and her daughter Phan Ho Hong Nguyen (22 years old, in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City) could not hide their tears when they heard that she and her daughter had escaped from the "death’s doorstep”, and soon to be reunited with their family.
Ms. Nhu emotionally said: “In the past days, the doctors and nurses here are very dedicated. Thanks to that, my mother and I are getting better every day. Recalling the day that I was transferred to the emergency room, our conditions were already very severe, thinking that we could not survive. My mother and other patients owed the doctors a huge favor…”
The nurse Nguyen Thanh Trung, Department of Anesthesiology and Cardiovascular Resuscitation, Hue Central Hospital, deputy nurse in charge of the treatment area for patient resuscitation and preparing for discharge at the Intensive Care Center for COVID-19 patients shared that, currently, there are 331 severe and critical COVID-19 patients being treated at the center. Of these, 259 patients are about to be discharged from the hospital to return to their families.
That is the effort of the entire team of medical staff, doctors and nurses of Hue Central Hospital and other hospitals "rooting" here. “We have been doing everything we can to save the patients,” said Nguyen Thanh Trung.
Prof. Dr. Pham Nhu Hiep on the occasion of welcoming Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son and the delegation of the Ministry of Health to visit the Intensive Care Center for COVID-19 patients
“We’ll come home by the time the pandemic is under control”
With many years of experience in taking care of critically ill patients, the nurse Nguyen Thanh Trung is familiar with activities such as giving hygiene practices for patients, bathing, helping patients eat through a catheter, monitoring vital signs, and so on. However, different from normal patient care, nurses looking after COVID-19 patients faced many difficulties. As they have to work in hot, tight protective suits, with the large number of patients, the work pressure is really increased.
The nurse Nguyen Thanh Trung said: “There are many patients, so the need for care and monitoring of vital signs also increased. We have to move often, constantly. We pay attention to hygiene for patients right on the hospital bed (critical patients defecate and urinate in bed). Because of late and inadequate hygiene, the risk of infection will increase, and the patient's condition will become worse. The responsibility and conscience of the medical profession does not allow us to be late, we have to be wholehearted and dedicated to each patient.”
The workload is high and ones have to work in an environment of high risk of infection; but when asked, "Have you ever been discouraged and wanted to give up?", Nguyen Thanh Trung said, "We always encourage each other. If one of us is too tired, s/he should take a break and then go back to work. The patients need us, how can we give up?"
Like Nurse Trung, Specialist 2, Doctor Nguyen Thanh Huy, Head of Infection Control Department, Hue Central Hospital has been "rooting" at the Intensive Care Center for COVID-19 patients in the "pandemic center" of Ho Chi Minh City from the early days of construction until now.
Doctor Huy shared: “On the way to Ho Chi Minh City, we determine that our work is exposed to a very high risk of infection. Through many difficulties, up to now, we are still strong and steady, dedicated to give the best treatment for our patients. We all determined that the pandemic had to be under control before we could come home."
Prof. Dr. Pham Nhu Hiep, Director of Hue Central Hospital shared: “As soon as I received the order from the Ministry of Health to build an Intensive Care Center for COVID-19 patients in Ho Chi Minh City, Hue Central Hospital quickly mobilized materials and human resources to "support" the center of the pandemic. In a short time, a 616-bed Intensive Care Center for COVID-19 patients has been completed and is actively treating patients. In which, there are 252 resuscitation beds for severe and critical patients; 252 beds for patients to escape resuscitation and oxygenated with masks; 112 beds for monitoring and preparing for discharge”.
“We came to Ho Chi Minh City with responsibility and our hearts. With the workforce of more than 300 highly qualified medical staff and modern machinery and equipment, we hope to effectively support HCMC’s health sector to soon repel the pandemic. Up to now, 61 severe and critical patients have been cured, discharged from the hospital, that is a good sign, motivating our medical team to make more efforts.” - Prof. Dr. Pham Nhu Hiep emphasized.
In previous waves of COVID-19 pandemic, with responsibility and dedication, Hue Central Hospital has "sent" human resources to pandemic hot spots such as: Da Nang, Bac Giang, Phu Yen, Quang Ngai, Binh Duong, Dong Thap ... to support treatment for many COVID-19 patients to escape from the “death’s doorstep" and return to their normal life.
Story and photos: Thuong Thuong