People who get each dose of vaccine
Ms. Dinh Thi Thanh is one of 227 outstanding officials in the capital's health sector honored by the Hanoi Health Trade Union on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Vietnam Doctors' Day (February 27, 1955 - February 27, 2025).
Ms. Thanh said that this is not only her personal pride but also the result of the cooperation and solidarity of the whole collective where she is working. What moved Thanh the most was the opportunity to talk about those who were playing a core role but were rarely mentioned. That is the team of grassroots health workers.
When talking about the medical industry, people often refer to good doctors in big hospitals, modern medical techniques, and advanced medical achievements. But it is grassroots health care that is the most solid foundation of a sustainable health system.
Also from the reality of work, Ms. Thanh confided: "The places we contribute and work in are not high-rise buildings, not modern equipment, without spacious rooms, without a strong support team like in big hospitals, but are people, doctors, nurses, officers who stick close to the area every day, taking care of people's health from the smallest things".
We are the ones who get vaccinated at every cost, go to every alley, knock on every door, check every subject, are the ones who examine patients who are not qualified to go to upper-level hospitals, are the ones who maintain the health of the whole community, not only through medicine but also through dedication, advice, guidance and sometimes sharing - Ms. Thanh said.
Having met young doctors who gave up primary care because of their low income
Graduating from Hanoi Medical University in 1999, Ms. Thanh has worked in all areas from district to district. She has been attached to many commune and ward health stations, regional clinics, where there are only a few doctors, nurses who are both examining patients, doing administrative work, having to be on duty for emergency care, and also providing health consultation.
She has also met young doctors who abandoned traditional medicine because of their low income, difficult working conditions, and no promotion opportunities. She herself encouraged and shared but also failed many times and could not keep them. But Ms. Thanh also directly participated and witnessed doctors, nurses, and health workers working day and night, without time to rest, without a moment to be left unused during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than anyone, each of them understands that just a small mistake can have a huge impact. You just hope to control the epidemic and protect the community.
No one was moved by the sharing of Ms. Dinh Thi Thanh, when she said her outstanding performance was not only in successful surgeries, breakthrough research projects, but also in the quiet, persistent, persistent people who contributed to making this society healthier every day.
A strong health system does not only have large hospitals and modern technology, but more importantly, there must be people ready to go to every alley, knock on every door, check every subject to take care of the health of the people - those are grassroots health workers. According to Ms. Thanh, every medical staff deserves to be honored, especially grassroots health staff. Those who may not be widely known, but they are the ones who keep the health system from falling. These are not only doctors, but also those who protect public health in the quietest way.
What Ms. Thanh hopes for is attention, support and creating conditions for grassroots health care to develop more strongly, even though she knows that grassroots health care has now been transferred to the district for management. She also hopes to continue to receive attention and support from the capital's health system and the Hanoi Health Sector Trade Union. The development of the Hanoi health sector today is thanks to the tireless dedication of many generations of doctors. Hanoi cannot have a good healthcare without a strong grassroots healthcare system.
On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Vietnamese Doctors' Day (February 27, 1955 - February 27, 2025), the Hanoi Health Sector Trade Union organized a ceremony to honor outstanding People's Doctors, Meritorious Doctors and Health Sector Officials of the Capital. Here, 227 individuals are People's Doctors, Meritorious Doctors and outstanding officials of the Capital's health sector with outstanding achievements in professional activities and patriotic emulation movements were rewarded.
