The army has established over 1,900 epidemic control groups and checkpoints with over 13,000 people to strictly control the border on land and at sea towards preventing illegal entry and exit. The army has also coordinated with localities to deploy nearly 5,000 groups and checkpoints with the participation of over 22,000 officials, soldiers and self-defense forces at epidemic-hit areas as well as set up 190 quarantine points to serve more than 270,000 people. Military forces have also organised 10 field hospitals, converted the functions of a military-civilian general hospital into a COVID-19 treatment hospital, and established a treatment centre for moderate and severe patients with thousands of military doctors and staff.
The army has contributed VND510 billion to support the COVID-19 vaccine fund; mobilised thousands of vehicles transporting vaccines to the localities; and disinfected thousands of epidemic-hit areas.
Many comrades have spent many nights sleeping in the forest to firmly guard the borders to prevent the invasion of the epidemic as well as giving up their barracks and sleeping places to take care of people in blockade areas.
Many comrades whose family members have died or are infected with COVID-19 could not return home because they are still on duty. Many doctors, nurses and students of military medical universities and colleges who previously volunteered to Hai Duong, Bac Ninh and Bac Giang immediately set off to Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces to join in epidemic prevention and control. In addition, many soldiers have been infected with COVID-19 and some have even sacrificed their lives while performing their missions.
The above facts clearly show the determination and great responsibility of soldiers to the nation and people while affirming that soldiers are always present when people face difficulties, hardships, natural disasters and epidemics.
At the launch ceremony of a special emulation movement themed “The military joins hands with the whole nation to fight and win COVID-19 pandemic,” on August 23, the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence asked the whole army to focus on the emulation and uphold their spirit of dedication to the cause of serving people to lead all activities and successfully fulfill the epidemic prevention and control mission. Agencies and units were asked to thoroughly grasp the situation at the grassroots regarding the development of the epidemic, especially in key areas,and to promptly advise the Central Military Commission, Defense Ministry, the Government's special working group in the south, leaders and commanders and Steering Committees for epidemic prevention and control at all levels.
The military forces must work with Party committees, authorities and armed forces in all localities to maintain the activities of groups and checkpoints on the border line and at sea as well as resolutely prevent illegal intrusion. The assigned units need to operate quarantine areas well. Field hospitals are required to actively join in the health care, testing and vaccination of the people, notably that of severely ill patients.
In addition, the army continue to enhance their coordination with local Party committees and authorities to solve difficulties, care for patients, help farmers harvest agricultural products and crops and provide locals with necessities. Epidemic prevention and control measures at a higher level to promptly respond and handle, avoiding unforeseen surprises.
Agencies and units are synchronously, drastically and effectively implementing epidemic prevention and control under the direction of the Government, Defense Ministry and localities as well as timely detecting and rewarding outstanding collectives and individuals in the emulation movement. Effective models and good examples in COVID-19 prevention and control should continue to be honoured and propagated, towards spreading the noble qualities of “Uncle Ho’s soldiers”.
