On the morning of April 9, at the headquarters of the General Department of Logistics and Engineering, we met again with the medical staff after nearly 10 days of supporting the recovery from the earthquake in Myanmar. Everyone's face was dark from the sun, wind and lack of sleep. Lieutenant Colonel Lai Ba Thanh (Military Hospital 103, Military Medical Academy), Head of the Medical Team, said that the weather in Myanmar is very harsh, with an average temperature of more than 40 degrees Celsius during the day. The forces of the Vietnam People's Army worked at high intensity, taking advantage of every hour and every minute to search for survivors. Many days, the soldiers had to work at the scene from early morning until after 8 p.m.

Leaders of the General Department of Logistics and Engineering commended and congratulated the military medical force.

Another challenge is the polluted working environment due to the decomposing bodies of victims and the rising garbage in hot and dusty weather conditions. Preventing heatstroke and heatstroke and keeping soldiers healthy is difficult. The medical force closely coordinates with the engineering and border guards to deodorize, disinfect, and help remove victims' bodies, which poses many potential safety risks. Previously, a number of foreign rescue teams had come to these areas but all left due to their complex and dangerous nature. Lieutenant Colonel Lai Ba Thanh confided: “As soon as we arrived in Naypyidaw city, witnessing the desolate and ruined scene and the pain of the survivors who lost their loved ones, we immediately began the rescue mission. We determined that this was an order from the heart, a quality and tradition of the Vietnam People's Army, of Uncle Ho's soldiers; searching for victims was like searching for our own loved ones.”

In Naypyidaw, the medical team was divided into two groups: 15 comrades were in charge of logistics for the relief forces; 15 comrades went to the scene and organized into three medical teams, one of which examined, treated, and provided free medicine to the people, while the other two worked with the border guards and engineers to rescue the soldiers and people. When a victim was discovered, measures were taken to deodorize, disinfect, and remove the body.

During the rescue mission, the medical team always proactively carried out medical reconnaissance, ensured the safety of the rescue force, disinfected the environment, packaged the bodies according to regulations, disinfected our rescue force and the friendly force after removing the victims' bodies; and handed over many valuable assets to the victims' families and local authorities.

The medical forces of Military Hospital 103, Military Hospital 354, and Military Hospital 105 (General Department of Logistics and Engineering) have closely coordinated in performing their tasks; always upholding the spirit of solidarity, coordination, cooperation, and mutual support in performing their tasks. The comrades in charge of logistics took good care of the working group; took care of their health, and ensured good food hygiene and safety.

The medical team also performed well in foreign affairs, exchanges, contacts and shared rescue and relief experiences with professional agencies of other countries. The doctors also presented the government and people of Myanmar with many valuable medicines, medical equipment and logistics. They examined and distributed medicine to more than 200 people in the context of hospitals in the capital of Myanmar being devastated and lacking medicines and medical equipment. The work of the doctors and soldiers left good feelings and respect from the people and authorities at all levels; at the same time, it demonstrated the spirit of international solidarity, the tradition of humanity of the Vietnamese people, and the noble qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers in the new era.

On the morning of April 9, at the meeting to honor the medical team participating in supporting the recovery from the earthquake in Myanmar, Lieutenant General Tran Minh Duc, Director of the General Department of Logistics and Engineering, congratulated and praised the medical team for completing their mission excellently and returning home in absolute safety; requested that units continue to pay attention, encourage and create conditions for the medical team to have time to rest and recover their health. Coordinate with relevant agencies to evaluate and summarize the specific organization of the unit's participation in the relief activities, as a basis for summarizing and drawing common experiences throughout the army.

Article and photos: MINH MANH

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    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/nuoi-duong-van-hoa-bo-doi-cu-ho/toa-sang-pham-chat-thay-thuoc-chien-si-trong-cong-tac-cuu-ho-823284