DTU nursing volunteers were selected to support medical staff and law enforcement officers manning Covid-19 checkpoints in Hue, Quang Nam, and Danang. With the support of their families, the students wanted to do their best to help battle the virus.
“Shifts change every three hours, day and night. Our disoriented biological clocks and the sweltering noontime temperatures of 40°C redden our faces and we sweat profusely, but no one is late or complains, because we are all are focused on fighting the pandemic,” explains Nguyen Hue Phuong, a third-year nursing student, on duty at a checkpoint in Dai Hiep commune in the Dai Loc district of Quang Nam.
Prevention guidance
Since the wave of infection abated at the Danang Hospital for Women & Children in May, Nguyen Ba Minh Tuan, a final-year nursing student has worked at a checkpoint on Hoang Van Thai street in the Lien Chieu district of Danang.
Despite very high temperatures, Minh Tuan still wears a tight protective suit on duty when he assists the police and others taking the temperatures of everyone entering the city center, showing them how to make their medical declarations, scanning QR codes to verify computer information and recording the license plate numbers of all vehicles. He also gathers data on travelers arriving from epidemic areas or showing symptoms of a cough, fever, fatigue or shortness of breath, to determine whether they need to be transferred to quarantine or not.
Minh Tuan (in protective suit) helping travelers make out their medical declarations
“The volume of traffic is quite high and while most people willingly make health declarations, others lose patience queuing in the heat,” explains Minh Tuan. “Those who made a declaration longer than 48 hours ago must make a new declaration to control the epidemic, and we always smile and successfully persuade them to collaborate, which is the fastest way to dispel the disease.”
Minh Tuan taught other students how to work at checkpoints when classes resumed, although the non-stop work always exhausts him. He says: “If you follow the news on radio or television, you’ll see workers like us wearing protective gear, surgical masks, hats, goggles and tight-fitting clothes all day long. It’s actually extremely uncomfortable but the best way to halt the pathogens. My body and clothing are always drenched and at times I feel on the verge of collapse. However, encouragement from the police strengthens our resolve. Some days while we are working, it starts to rain heavily and we must somehow prevent our tents from flying away. At those times, I fervently hope that the pandemic will be over soon so that life can get back to normal.”
The Danang City Union and the DTU Union deliver presents to the checkpoints
Like Minh Tuan, Dang Thi Thanh Huong, a first-year nursing student helps at the Hoa Vang checkpoint in Danang. The university had already implemented online classes during the daytime, so Thanh Huong works in the evenings. She says: “I get home exhausted at 10 pm, happy that I’m making a small contribution controlling the epidemic in the city. My spirits are uplifted and I’m quickly re-motivated.”
“My checkpoint only inspects buses and trucks entering the city, there’s a lot of work to do, but we work seriously to identify to stop those from infected areas or with suspicious symptoms from entering Danang. The local people at the checkpoint are also very supportive of us, the police and medical staff and the university Union regularly brings us fruit and drinks, which leaves us feeling and thinking that we should be doing even more.”
Patience dealing deal with individuals breaking Covid-19 rules
During virus outbreaks, manning checkpoints is vitally important in its prevention, despite the tireless work diagnosing and treating the disease by controlling infected people entering and leaving the city and sending some to quarantine. Hue Phuong also has many tasks, from checking the registration numbers of the vehicles, taking temperatures and helping travelers complete medical declarations.
"Shifts change every three hours, day and night. Our disoriented biological clocks and the sweltering noontime temperatures of 40°C redden our faces and we sweat profusely, but no one is late or complains, because we are all are focused on fighting the pandemic,” explains Nguyen Hue Phuong, a third-year nursing student, on duty at a checkpoint in Dai Hiep commune in the Dai Loc district of Quang Nam.
Hue Phuong taking temperatures at the checkpoint
“I really admire the police, the army and the medical staff throughout Vietnam fighting the epidemic in this sweltering heat,” says Hue Phuong. “I gained much experience at the checkpoint, which will contribute to my efficiency as a nurse.”
Nguyen Thi Ha Tram, a first-year nursing student, was equally enthusiastic when she volunteered to work at the Huong Phu commune, in Nam Dong, in Hue. Her shifts were crammed with activities, including antibacterial spraying, taking temperatures, helping with health declarations, controlling people and vehicles, stopping vehicles carrying infected people or suspected cases from entering, and enforcing Covid-19 prevention rules.
“Among the huge number of people making health declarations, I once saw an elderly man with a broken leg,” recounts Ha Tram. “He walked with great difficulty, so I quickly moved him into the shade, took his temperature and helped him with his health declaration. His cooperation gained my deep respect. Meanwhile, there were others, much younger, who did not respect the rules. I met a couple who selfishly decided to complete just one declaration for the two of them. I had to be very firm and they finally agreed to make separate ones, all of which taught me how to stay patient and calm, and do a good job.”
The Vice-Dean of Nursing, MSc Nguyen Dieu Hang, explains: “The university educates our students in the basics of nursing, how to take care of their patients internally, in surgery and during specialized pathology. Meanwhile, we instill them with medical ethics and a sense of responsibility, encouraging them to dedicate their youthful energy in building and protecting healthcare in the community.
“Due to the lack of other human resources during the epidemic, many medical, pharmacy and nursing students volunteered to help. I’m very happy with their sense of community responsibility and always remind them to be patient and strong in urgent situations, abiding by the principles of prevention and helping to overcome the virus.”
(Media Center)