Small gift, great meaning
Every day, Ms. Nguyen Hong Ngoc (62 years old, living in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) goes to Saigon General Hospital to take care of her elderly mother, who is 90 years old this year. After finishing preparing lunch for her mother, Mrs. Ngoc sat in a corner to quickly eat the meal cooked at home early.
These days, in order to have enough money to pay for her mother's hospital bills, Mrs. Ngoc does not dare to buy household necessities and has to run everywhere to borrow money. Knowing that Ms. Ngoc's family was in a difficult situation, the medical staff in the hospital asked, encouraged, and gave Ms. Ngoc a small gift from the "An Sani Rice Cabinet", helping to ease the burden of "rice". shirt, rice, money".
"Even though insurance covers 100% of the hospital fees, I still have to take care of the advance payment, and I only have 500,000 VND, which is not enough to pay, so I have to spend frugally and borrow from many places. Recently, I got a friend. The hospital nurse informed me to go to the Department of Traditional Medicine to receive the gift. I was very surprised and indescribably happy" - Ms. Ngoc said. The gift includes rice, fish sauce, sugar, MSG, and milk.
Mr. Sieu Van Mung (59 years old, living in District 1) also received a gift from the "An Welfare Rice Cabinet". Sitting and resting in the middle of the hospital's small yard, Mr. Mung said that for the past 2 months, he has not been able to go to work because he broke his arm after falling off a motorbike, and had to go to the hospital for physical therapy. With no income, Mr. Mung had to use his savings to both cover living expenses and pay for hospital bills.
"The last time I went for treatment, the doctors examined me and asked about my life. They encouraged me a lot and gave me a gift containing rice, fish sauce, salt, sugar, milk... I was touched. very" - Mr. Mung shared.
Abandon "rules" to help many lives
"The Welfare Rice Cabinet" was born based on the idea of the Youth Union combined with the Social Work Group of Saigon General Hospital. During the examination and questioning process, the hospital's doctors and nurses learned of many cases of patients in difficult circumstances, with inadequate meals, some even skipping meals, not ensuring their health. . Knowing the situation, the hospital's medical staff decided to establish a "Rice Cabinet for Peace" to share difficulties with patients.
Mr. Phan Quoc Linh - Head of the Department of Traditional Medicine, Saigon General Hospital - said that at the beginning, when the rice cabinet was established, the doctors set up rules, only supporting patients with medical conditions. poor household book. However, in reality, many patients, despite being in extremely difficult circumstances, do not eat enough three meals a day but do not have a poverty book. A few others are afraid to ask for support, so the hospital's medical staff decided to abandon that rule altogether.
"While examining and asking questions, we will also exploit the patient's situation. If we find that the patient really needs help, we will proactively give gifts to support the patient. More and more Those who are helped, we feel happy about it" - Dr. Linh told us.
There were many times when the "Rice Safety Cabinet" gradually ran out, doctors and nurses quickly spent their own money to buy necessities, placed them inside the rice cabinet, and promptly supported patients.
"For patients, when they receive a shared gift, they are 10 times happy, we are also 8 or 9 times happy. The gifts are not only material, but also our hearts and comfort for them. patients, so they don't feel alone in their medical journey" - Mr. Linh said.
Nearly a year ago, since the birth of "An Sanh Rice Cabinet", each month, 20 - 30 patients have received support, of which 80% of recipients are elderly, lonely, and suffering from serious illnesses. .
