Every day, from dawn, members of the charity kitchen of Vinh Chau Medical Center, Can Tho City are busy preparing: some wash rice, some pick vegetables, some cook. Currently, the kitchen serves about 150 meals a day, including rice and congee, depending on the number of patients staying at the center.
Ms. La Thu Tuyet - a kitchen leader and also a person who has been attached to it since its inception - shared: The kitchen was established with the desire to share some of the difficulties with poor patients. Everyone has fallen into difficult circumstances and a small meal is sometimes a great source of spiritual encouragement.
"We only keep one thing in mind: A piece when hungry is worth a package when full. Therefore, doctors in the medical center and benefactors have joined together to contribute to the common goal of helping patients feel secure in treatment," Ms. Tuyet added.
Not only the volunteers have been attached to the charity kitchen for many years, the charity kitchen also attracts the active participation of medical staff and employees. Bachelor of Nursing Danh Thi Hong Chau is a typical example.
Ms. Chau said: "Whenever I have free time, I join the kitchen assistant. I am young, and if I am healthy, there is no reason to stand aside. I myself feel very happy and excited to contribute to helping people during the treatment process here".
Ms. Thach Thi Luong - a patient being treated - emotionally expressed: "I am very grateful to the hospital's kitchen. Every day, the teachers give away free meals. If I didn't have a kitchen, I would have to spend hundreds of thousands of VND a day to buy rice outside. The dish has stir-fried vegetables, stir-fried meat, soup... very delicious. Poor people come here to treat their illnesses, everyone is very happy".
Since its operation in October 2010, the Vinh Chau Medical Center charity kitchen has served more than 450,000 meals, with a total cost of more than 2.7 billion VND. This funding comes entirely from the contributions of doctors, nurses and the community, helping the kitchen to always be "hot" every day.
In order to ensure an efficient kitchen and provide nutritious meals, the Medical Center has built a separate area for a charity kitchen, as a place to store food, provisions and prepare meals for poor patients.
Master Dang Van Uoc - Deputy Director of Vinh Chau Medical Center - said: "The kitchen was established with the main goal of supporting free meals for poor patients, patients' families and those in especially difficult circumstances being treated at the center. The meals are not just a simple meal but also a great spiritual encouragement. In addition, the meals are built according to the right nutritional regimen and dietary allowance, contributing to helping patients recover quickly".
