As both the first special-class and the largest hospital in the country, Bach Mai has had a long history and a strong development process, deserving of being the highest line and the most reliable hospital not only for patients but also for domestic and international colleagues.
The love for the hospital has always been in the hearts of generations of staff and they are always proud to be part of the heroic hospital.
The COVID-19 pandemic has swept through the hospital over the past weeks, hurting everyone who loves it. I feel like the hospital has just been bombed again, like the B52 bombing in the past. No matter the devastation caused by the bombs, it could not stop the operation of the hospital, but the invisible enemy today has put the hospital into blockade with all of its employees isolated and patients refused.
There was a sadness that cannot be described in words. There was a bit of bewilderment among the patients and some grief among the doctors and nurses, but none of them lost faith or flinched. The doctors did not think of themselves, but were worried about how their serious patients would be? What if critical emergency patients cannot reach Bach Mai and enter A9 emergency department?
Meanwhile, the patients and the people have expressed their love and support for the doctors who have been working hard every day, through the touching handwritten letters and practical gifts for the hospital.
The Government, the Ministry of Health, and the authorities have acknowledged the importance of the hospital and provided their full support, creating the most favourable conditions for Bach Mai to stand firm and continue to treat severe patients who cannot be referred.
They decided to allow Bach Mai to continue receiving seriously ill patients, beyond the treatment capacity of the grassroots hospitals, but, of course, the hospital must obey strict requirements on pandemic prevention.
These have become great motivations to encourage brave white combatants to overcome dangers to fulfil their tasks. Moreover, the sound decision to allow Bach Mai, despite being under blockade, to continue receiving critical emergency cases, has helped saved many patients who had seemed likely to be dragged by the Reaper.
The image, that A9 doctors conducting external cardiac compression for a pregnant woman who lost circulation twice right on a stretcher in the rain, touched millions of hearts.
The image, that A9 doctors conducting external cardiac compression for a pregnant woman who lost circulation twice right on a stretcher in the rain, touched millions of hearts.
Having spent my whole life as a doctor in continuous work at Bach Mai, from graduation from the Hanoi Medical University until retirement, I consider the hospital as my second home. I have always watched the happenings of the pandemic every hour and minute, and sympathise with my colleagues, particularly the young ones.
My colleagues moved me to tears when I heard the words from their heart at the centre of the pandemic and heard about their interrupted calls and rush of text messages from the blocked areas who have never stopped taking care of serious patients.
It is unable to mention all the pressures and unprecedented difficulties that my friends have been experiencing when the hospital was locked down. There are people rejected by their landlords, and there are doctors whose mothers have passed away but they were unable to see them for the last time. Many other people and their families are shunned by their neighbours.
But they were not discouraged, they still reassured their families to accept isolation and unprecedented challenge, in order to join their colleagues to fight against the pandemic while treating and taking care of serious patients as patients’ relatives must be isolated.
The pandemic does not except anyone and any country, even in the world’s most advanced countries, a number of doctors and healthcare workers have been infected and many of them have had to say goodbye to this world. It is not right to say that my colleagues do not worry or think about their families. They are all worried for their relatives. But the way they behave always bears the spirit of Bach Mai.
There is a pregnant medical worker who is soon to give birth but she resolutely wishes to stay at the hospital to join her colleagues in the fight against the pandemic. There is also a medical worker who wrote an application to join forces to combat the pandemic with a firm statement "if die, die gloriously". He even told me that, before putting on his backpack to come to the hospital, he wrote a will…So emotional and admirable!
With ordinary but extraordinary workers like that, Bach Mai deserves to be the Hero three times and more!
I also saw that the doctors and medical workers of the A9 emergency department, after their rotating shifts together, do exercise to stay healthy in the unique scene of an empty and strangely quiet hospital campus. Several days before, they were extremely busy in both treating a large number of serious patients in the department and receiving emergencies from the outside.
I just wish that they have optimism and health to continue their fight as the pandemic has yet to end and A9 is an elite unit of the hospital.
Building a complete field area for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in just one night, Bach Mai Hospital is now ready for even the worst situations of the pandemic. Fortunately, the hospital currently has a leadership team which can be said to be the strongest, young, dynamic and talented.
Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Duc Hung, Deputy Director of the hospital, is the golden knife of cardiac surgery who also has a lot of experience in hospital management, after many years in charge of the General Planning Department.
Chairman of the Management Board, Professor, Dr. Ngo Quy Chau is also a talented person, a leading expert with extensive respiratory experience and a truly devoted person, who always tries to do everything for the sustainable development of the hospital.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Tuan, a talented and virtuous Director, also a well-known cardiologist, who possesses enough morality, vision, and talent for a great expectation of bringing Bach Mai Hospital to another new level.
In addition, the hospital leadership also has professors and doctors who are very talented and possess many good qualities. With such elite leaders and effective professional ethics of medical personnel, I believe that Bach Mai will definitely succeed in fighting against the disease and will surely bring the hospital to new heights in the future. And, we have the right to hope that it will reach out to the continent and the world.
It is true that during this tough period, Bach Mai is in more desperate need of spiritual encouragement than ever and the whole community and society is standing ready to share in the difficulties facing the hospital.
With its class and bravery and the well fulfilment of its tasks, Bach Mai Hospital seems to make each of us feel secure and that they have raised confidence in the victory. I just hope that my beloved doctors, nurses and colleagues at Bach Mai Hospital will always remain healthy.
I am extremely glad for the news that Bach Mai Hospital will be lifted blockade on April 12! The medical workers here were all safe and the hospital will be able to receive, examine and treat patients as usual. Congratulations to patients and the hospital!
With a strong will and high determination to extinguish this dangerous disease, Bach Mai Hospital has prevailed, and it is also believed that our nation will overcome the pandemic!
Bach Mai Hospital, with its great and wonderful contributions, will always be a place where confidence and love reside!
