On the afternoon of November 24, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health announced that, in response to the severe flooding causing extensive damage in Dak Lak province, the HCMC Department of Health held an emergency meeting and decided to establish 5 medical aid teams. These teams will be dispatched to the communes of Hoa Xuan, Hoa Thinh, Dong Xuan, Dong Hoa, and Tuy An Dong, following an official request from the Dak Lak Provincial Department of Health.
These areas are currently severely affected, with many regions still deeply submerged or isolated, leaving residents in dire need of basic healthcare services.
The task forces are assigned by locality and led by the general hospitals from HCMC, including Nhan Dan Gia Dinh Hospital, Nhan Dan 115 Hospital, An Binh Hospital, Thu Duc Regional General Hospital, and Binh Duong General Hospital.
The leading units are responsible for essential specialized areas during disasters, such as emergency care – resuscitation, internal medicine, surgery, and orthopedics. Additionally, the Department of Health has reinforced each team with personnel from specialized hospitals in HCMC.
These include specialists in obstetrics (Tu Du Hospital and Hung Vuong Hospital), pediatrics (Children’s Hospital 1, Children’s Hospital 2, City Children’s Hospital), dermatology (Dermatology Hospital), and infectious diseases (Hospital for Tropical Diseases), along with a team of nurses and pharmacists.
The participation of multi-specialty teams aims to ensure comprehensive care for people in flood-affected areas, especially children, the elderly, and pregnant women – the most vulnerable groups after a natural disaster.
The main tasks of the working groups are to provide direct medical examinations and treatment to residents, distribute free medicine, and offer advice on self-care and infectious disease prevention. Simultaneously, the teams will support local health stations in restoring operations, classifying cases, and coordinating patient transfers when necessary.
Moreover, each team will carry 500 family medical kits (including antipyretics, oresol, diarrhea medication, cold medicine, antiseptic solution, and first aid supplies) to hand directly to residents. In total, 2,500 medical kits have been prepared with contributions from various hospitals.
All expenses for this mission are covered by the participating hospitals themselves, demonstrating the responsibility and compassion of HCMC’s healthcare sector towards compatriots in the flood-stricken region.
According to the plan, the 5 aid teams will depart for their mission once Dak Lak province finalizes the reception arrangements.
Previously, dozens of doctors from Cho Ray Hospital, Thong Nhat Hospital, Military Hospital 175, Nhan Dan 115 Hospital, Orthopedic Hospital, An Binh Hospital, and Rehabilitation – Occupational Disease Treatment Hospital had traveled to Khanh Hoa province to provide medical support to flood-affected residents.
In addition to helping residents manage common conditions and prevent infections, HCMC’s aid also helps alleviate the pressure on the overwhelmed healthcare systems of local areas during the recent historic floods.
