Volunteers brave dangers on Covid-19 frontline

(VOVWORLD) - Medical students in Hanoi have volunteered to work in Bac Ninh and Bac Giang province, Vietnam’s Covid-19 epicenters. Other volunteers have worked in quarantine areas or helped transport necessities and medical supplies to people in lockdown areas.

Volunteers brave dangers on Covid-19 frontline  - ảnh 1Youth Union is ready to provide essential goods to people in lockdown area in Bac Ninh.

Volunteers from Hanoi Medical University wake up at 6 a.m. every day to prepare for a working day helping frontline doctors and nurses in Yen Phong district, Bac Ninh province.

Wearing a protective suit, anti-droplet glasses, and two masks, Le Mai Bao Chau, a 4th year student in the Preventive Medicine Department, takes on the task of vaccinating Yen Phong locals. After working there for over 2 weeks, Bao Chau is familiar with the hard work and sacrifices of frontliners. In the scorching summer sun, wearing PPE is challenging for Chau.

“In hot weather like this, wearing tight protective, the sweat released is hot and uncomfortable, and my shift lasts 3-4 hours outside. But in order to limit contact, avoid infection, and not have to change into new protective clothing, before each shift, whether in the morning or afternoon, I usually don’t drink much water and do not dare to drink water during the shift,” said Chau.

The daily routine of volunteers is tracing contacts, reporting on the number of tests and new cases, taking samples for testing, and vaccinating people. Difficulties do not get them down. Student Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang, a native of Tuyen Quang, said sometimes she has to take nose and throat swab samples until midnight.  

“Being aware of why I‘m working, I must accept the harsh working conditions and wear a mask to protect myself and others. I have many times consoled myself with the thought that after this shift, I’ll take a rest and regain more energy. I’ve decided I’ll only return home when the pandemic is over, or maybe I’ll go to work in another hotspot. So I'm not sure when I'll be back home,” said Trang.

Volunteers brave dangers on Covid-19 frontline  - ảnh 2Phuc La ward's Youth Union members give gifts to people in quarantine area.

Nguyen Xuan Phuong from Hanoi’s Ha Dong district is on duty at a Covid-19 checkpoint in Phuc La ward. He said, Each shift last 6 hours, starting at 5 in the morning. I disseminate information on protective measures and lockdown areas, advising the public to avoid large gatherings, stay home, and wear a mask if they have to go out. My phone is always on standby for unexpected local needs, even at night.”

Young volunteers are ready to raise donations and transport necessities and medical supplies to people in need. Members of a Youth Union’s charity program called "Sharing love, joining hands to defeat the pandemic" have delivered goods worth 170,000USD to Bac Ninh, Bac Giang and Dien Bien, the provinces hardest hit by the pandemic.

Volunteers brave dangers on Covid-19 frontline  - ảnh 3Youth in Ha Dong district carry out mobile propaganda against Covid-19.

Ngoc Anh Duong, a member of the Vietnam Pickup Club, said, “During this peak time of the pandemic, our team is transporting cargo to hotspots in Bac Ninh and Bac Giang, hospitals, quarantine areas, and other pandemic areas. The club organizes 2-3 trips per day.”

The young volunteers’ wholeheartedness reflects a spirit of "Wherever there is difficulty, there is youth." They are braving hardships to aid Vietnam’s efforts to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic.

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