A trusted address for health care for people on both sides of the Vietnam - Laos border

The Vietnam - Laos Border Military-Civilian Friendship Medical Station (belonging to the Long Sap Border Guard Station - Son La Provincial Border Guard) is located in Long Sap Commune, Moc Chau District, Son La Province. This is a trusted address for people on both sides of the border when they need medical examination, treatment and health care.

The heart of Vietnamese military doctors

One afternoon in mid-September 2024, when the sunlight was still lingering on the mountain top, the Vietnam-Laos Border Military-Civilian Friendship Medical Station received an emergency: four children between the ages of 2 and 10, all from Muong village, Sop Bau district, Hua Pha province (Laos) were brought to the station in a dangerous condition: pale skin, lethargic eyes, dry lips, rapid breathing, and vomiting. Family members said that the children had eaten grilled wild mushrooms.

Understanding that acute poisoning can be life-threatening, four military medical officers, including Major Hoang Van Nguyen, Major Pham Thien Thuat, Major Pham Manh Hung and Lieutenant Tong Van Tinh, quickly performed first aid and transferred the children to Moc Chau General Hospital for intensive treatment. Thanks to timely action, the children have overcome the critical stage and are gradually recovering.

Doctor Pham Van Truong, working at the National Children's Hospital, who directly participated in the treatment at Moc Chau General Hospital, said: The children were lucky to be brought to the hospital by the border guards in the golden period of less than 6 hours after the poisoning. Therefore, washing the stomach, inducing vomiting and using antidotes were effective.

The Lao children were taken home by the Long Sap Border Guard Station after their health stabilized. (Screenshot: Minh Thai)

After their health stabilized, the children were brought home by the Long Sap Border Guard Station to the joy of their families. The Sop Bau District government then unexpectedly awarded certificates of merit to four military medical officers, recognizing their efforts in supporting the treatment of four Laotian children.

In operation since July 2017 within the framework of the first Vietnam - Laos Border Friendship Exchange Program, the Vietnam - Laos Border Military-Civilian Medical Station has become a place of trust for people on both sides of the border. The station is spaciously built with 5 rooms including: duty room, examination room, minor surgery room, patient room, dining room and kitchen. People coming for treatment can stay and eat for free.

In addition to medical equipment such as ultrasound machines, electrocardiographs, aerosols, etc., the clinic also has a medicinal herb garden with many precious medicinal plants. This is a source of natural medicinal herbs that help military doctors combine modern and traditional medicine to treat common diseases in the area.

In addition to treating patients, the doctors of the clinic also regularly go to the villages to disseminate knowledge about food hygiene and safety, disease prevention and guide people in health care. This is also an opportunity for the doctors to grasp the lives and medical needs of the people and better understand the difficulties in the locality.

Major, physician Pham Thien Thuat, head of the medical station, shared: "Taking care of the health of soldiers and people in border areas is both a task and a responsibility, and a conscience of us doctors and medical staff." After more than 7 years of operation, the station has examined and treated nearly 20,000 people. Since the beginning of 2024, the station has examined and provided free medicine to 838 people from both countries.

For the health of people on the Vietnam - Laos border

In October 2024, during the second Vietnam - Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange Program, the Vietnam - Laos Border Military-Civilian Medical Station was one of three locations to organize free medical examinations and medicine distribution for people in the border areas of Son La province (Vietnam) and Hua Phan province (Laos). More than 2,000 people came to receive medicine, were examined and provided health advice by military doctors of the two countries. The Border Guard Military Medical Force and the Lao People's Army Military Medical Force also organized communication on how to care for, protect health, and prevent epidemics.

Mr. Luong Van Phuong, 70 years old, a veteran in Bo Sap village, Long Sap commune, happily showed off the bag of medicine he had just received: “I have had bone and joint pain for a long time, now I have the opportunity to see a doctor, and be carefully examined by Vietnamese and Lao military doctors. They not only gave me medicine but also instructed me on how to exercise to reduce the pain. I am very happy.”

Private Chik Khod Meung Xieng, from Laos' 101 Military Hospital, said this was his first time participating in a joint medical examination and treatment program. Thanks to the guidance of Vietnamese doctors, he learned a lot of experience. "If I have the chance, I will continue to participate in these programs to improve my skills," he said.

According to Colonel, Associate Professor, Doctor Le Van Dong, Deputy Director of the Military Medical Department, the joint medical examination and treatment activities and free medicine provision for people in the Vietnam - Laos border area by the military medical forces of the two countries contribute to screening and detecting common diseases, disseminating knowledge about health care, protection, and disease prevention for people in the border area. This is also an opportunity for military medical officers and staff of the two countries to exchange, share, and learn from each other's experiences in medical profession and military medical organization in specific conditions, contributing to strengthening the solidarity and friendship between the people, armies, and military medical sectors of the two countries.

According to the Military Medical Department, Logistics Department of the Border Guard, there are currently 36 military-civilian medical facilities along the Vietnam-Laos border with the participation of 36 military medical officers. In the first 9 months of 2024, the Border Guard military medical staff examined and provided free medicine to more than 7,500 Lao people with a total cost of nearly 500 million VND.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/dia-chi-tin-cay-cham-soc-suc-khoe-cua-nhan-dan-hai-ben-bien-gioi-viet-lao-207255.html