Blue-shirt warriors

They are very young persons with different starting points. But in difficult time of the pandemic, the enthusiasm of them was aroused and turned into mental strength and will to overcome hardships and fear. They are young volunteers who are working day and night together with medical officials and other functional forces to rapidly stamp out the disease and bring peace back to people's lives.

Despite having a hard time with the fight against the Covid-19, young warriors wearing  blue shirts are optimistic and hope that the pandemic would be repelled soon. In photo: To take second test samples at isolation area of Hiep An Secondary School (Thu Dau Mot City).

To share the fire

As one of eight people who came to concentrated isolation area of Hiep An Secondary School (Thu Dau Mot City), Vu Thi Thu, born in 1994, a doctor of Oriental medicine at Phu Hoa Ward Medical Station (Thu Dau Mot City) made many people admire when she decided to volunteer for the fight against the epidemic even though her family has only two members, her mother and shee. She said, before that, she had assisted concentrated isolation area of Dai Nam hotel. On June 18, when the city needed aid at a new location, she enthusiastically set off again.  It was not easy for her to decide to go to an epidemic center, did not know whether she could return, and there was only her elderly mother who was worried about her daughter at home.

When she arrived at the isolation area, due to the scarcity of personnel, she was assigned to be in charge of the entire isolation area. This work was not simple, she had to coordinate everything on behalf of the head. In addition, she had to manage a number of over 200 people, this was really a big pressure. “Despite the hardships and worries, when I see patients, especially 3-year-old babies, all my fears and hardships were gone. At that time, my only thought was to try to do my best, hoped that the patients could be well taken care of from meals to sleep, could  soon end isolation days, return healthy to the arms of their loved ones and family", Thu said.

Meanwhile, Le Thi Lan Nhi, a third-year student of Binh Duong Medical College, had a very different feeling when she first assisted in the concentrated isolation area. In addition to measuring body temperature, assisting in taking samples for testing, monitoring patient health etc., there were many other supporting jobs that do not have a specific working time; whenever needed, Nhi rushed to do her tasks, sometimes she had to wear tight protective suits all day. Not going home for a whole month did not discourage this student. “Taking part in medical support for the first time helped me realized many new things and gain practical experience in epidemic situations. Moreover, by volunteering, I hope to be able to contribute a small part to the fight against the "Covid-19 enemy". I will be here to serve until Binh Duong stamps out the epidemic," Lan Nhi said.

Not only medical staff, militia and self-defense forces were also very resilient peacetime soldiers in the fight against the epidemic. Just 4 months ago, 19-year-old Tran Van Sang was still a young soldier, working at Military Command of Phu My Ward, Thu Dau Mot City. When Thu Dau Mot City set  up a new isolation area, without hesitation, Sang volunteered to take the job. He did all tasks, from porter, assembling hospital beds, arranging places for eating and resting, preparing personal items for patients, spraying disinfectant in the isolation area, carrying patients when test results arrived... sometimes until 2 a.m., but Sang still did his works enthusiastically.

Sang said: “The difficulty to me is to move patients with symptoms of Covid-19 infection to another place. At this time, it is difficult to move safely while avoiding causing confusion for other patients, and also reassuring patients. I had to use all my social understanding and empathy to reassure patients", Sang said.

To determine to win over the epidemic

Nearly a month ago, when the disease spread rapidly in Binh Duong, the number of people being isolated in concentrated areas was increasing day by day, and the work of medical assistants was also doubled and even tripled. As being asked about the pressure they were going through, these young people who were assistants at isolation areas said that it was really stressful and overloaded days because of the massive workload. Every time a patient was traced, a new patient was brought in, they buckled because of work pressure.

They all understood very well their responsibilities, because the community was in dire need of volunteers like them. Therefore, despite working hard and facing a high risk of exposure, we all joined hands and complete all tasks. “Our wish is to contribute a small part to help the province control and overcome the epidemic soon. People should join hands with the health authority to strictly implement the "5K" message and regulations of the Government, Ministry of Health and the province so that the pandemic would be soon prevented and repelled, "said Thu.

Reported by Thanh Hong - Translated by Ngoc Huynh