The infirmaries on the islands of the Truong Sa archipelago do more than just provide medical treatment. They serve as a vital support system, giving fishermen the peace of mind to continue their work at sea.
“When I encountered a disaster at sea, I didn’t think I would make it through," Fisherman Nguyen Xuan Tung, originally from Hoai Nhon, Gia Lai, shared his thoughts after receiving emergency treatment for a severed lower leg at the Truong Sa Island infirmary.
"Thanks to the dedicated care provided by the officers, soldiers, and medical staff on Truong Sa Island, I am truly grateful and feel that I was never alone out on the open ocean,” said Tung.
In late August, following an incident involving fishing vessel QNA 90859TS in the waters of Truong Sa, 32 rescued fishermen were brought to Truong Sa Island. The island’s infirmary conducted health screenings, while officers, soldiers, and other forces on the island provided clothing, essential supplies, and accommodation to the fishermen, helping stabilize their physical and mental well-being before returning to the mainland.
In early September, a fisherman was airlifted from Truong Sa to the mainland for specialized treatment after suffering an accident while hauling in nets. Senior Lieutenant Colonel Le Minh Ngoc, a laboratory technician at the Truong Sa Island infirmary, said the infirmaries are fully equipped for emergency care, ensuring medical treatment for both military personnel and local fishermen.
"We often face shortages and have to put in extra effort—far more than our counterparts on the mainland. Yet, I am deeply proud. I view the island as my home and the sea as my homeland. It is an honor to serve here in Truong Sa,” Ngoc noted.
In the first eight months of 2026, military medical stations in the Truong Sa Special Zone provided medical examinations to over 3,700 military personnel and civilians and handled 237 emergency cases. They organized 20 ship and aircraft missions to transport critically ill patients to the mainland. The medical station on Song Tu Tay Island successfully treated 11 fishermen suffering from decompression sickness using a hyperbaric chamber.
