Since early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has raged in Vietnam, claiming the lives of more than 43,000 people. The losses are not just limited to numbers but also deeply ingrained in each family.
After nearly 4 years of struggling to fight the pandemic, the healthcare system has stabilized and the economy has begun to recover. The pain and loss seem to have somewhat subsided, thanks to the solidarity and sharing of the whole community.
Command from the heart
When the epidemic swept away all hope, in the same cruel situation, human kindness became the light that saved fragile and tragic fates.
Growing in his mother's womb for just over 7 months, Ta Le K.L (in Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh) cried out at birth thanks to the support of doctors, because the epidemic took his mother's life before he was born.
Referring to this situation, Lieutenant Colonel Le Thi My Lien - President of the Women's Union of the Binh Dinh Provincial Military Command (abbreviated as the Women's Union) - recounted that his wife died due to the epidemic, and Mr. Ta Cong Thao (born in 1982) alone could not take care of his 3 young children and elderly parents with his unstable job as a long-distance truck driver.
Realizing the difficult situation, the Women's Union and 2 units under the Military Command of Binh Dinh province decided to adopt and sponsor Mr. Thao's 3 children.
"The pain of losing a mother is too great for the children, especially K.L. Although saved by doctors in the womb, K.L did not have the opportunity to drink her mother's milk - a loss that is difficult to compensate for. When witnessing this scene, we could not hold back our tears" - Lieutenant Colonel Lien was moved.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Lien, in addition to political duties, the Army also joins hands to share difficulties with the People, helping children "missing fathers and mothers" have conditions to develop comprehensively both physically and mentally, partly compensating for the love for the children. This is not only a responsibility but also an "order from the heart" of the soldiers.
"I want to join the army"
As one of 17 cases whose children were adopted and sponsored by the army unit, Ms. Tran Thi Hong Hanh (born in 1980, residing in Bong Son ward, Hoai Nhon town) has somewhat relieved her worries about "food, clothing, and money".
Since the epidemic took away her husband, the father of her children, Ms. Hanh has had to shoulder the burden of raising four children alone in a situation of economic exhaustion.
Speaking about Mrs. Hanh’s situation, Lieutenant Colonel Lien said that before the pandemic broke out, Mrs. Hanh and her husband worked as factory workers in Binh Duong, raising 4 young children. Although their income was not abundant, it was just enough to take care of the children.
But then the incident happened, Mrs. Hanh was like a lost person, unable to survive in the South, so she had to take her children back to the countryside to live with her grandparents in a life of poverty.
After understanding the difficult situation of Mrs. Hanh's family, a military unit decided to adopt Le Thi T.H (born 2009) - the second daughter in the family. Through many years of attachment, the love and guidance of her "soldier" father and mother have left a deep impression on the little girl's heart, becoming the motivation to help her overcome difficulties.
Now, when she is more mature, T.H. expressed her dream of becoming a female soldier, contributing to the country. "T.H. said many times 'I want to join the army' when talking to us. Now she is in grade 10, when she finishes high school, I will propose to the chief to create conditions for her to join the army, to become a soldier according to her wishes," said Lieutenant Colonel Lien.
Each unit is a father, a mother
Colonel Vo Thanh Hai - Political Commissar, Military Command of Binh Dinh Province - said that realizing the great consequences caused by the epidemic, the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the Provincial Military Command directed units in the provincial armed forces to adopt 1 orphaned child.
"Over the years, adoption and sponsorship have brought many meanings, compensated for the love of orphans, shared the difficulties of families with children and grandchildren who have lost their father or mother. Up to now, the units have adopted and sponsored 17 children..." - Colonel Vo Thanh Hai said.
