Fisherman Do Van Hai is rescued and treated at the Truong Sa Medical Station. (Photo: VietnamPlus) A flag-raising ceremony took place on Truong Sa (Spratly) island, with music and the national anthem echoing as a resolute affirmation of Vietnam's sacred sovereignty over the archipelago.
At the Truong Sa Square, under the intense and dazzling sunlight, 222 members of the working delegation No. 4 stood proudly. Among them, 47 overseas Vietnamese from 22 countries around the world, representing all five continents, were there with their left hands placed over their chests and their eyes following the national flag as it fluttered in the wind, accompanying the resounding national anthem. At the moment, deep within their hearts was a prideful love for their home country and for Truong Sa.
The flag-raising ceremony at the Truong Sa Square. (Photo: VietnamPlus) A few hundred meters away from the square, in a hospital room at the Truong Sa Medical Station, fisherman Do Van Hai, born in 1980 on Phu Quy island of the central province of Binh Thuan, was lying motionless alone on bed. He listened attentively to the sounds of the solemn ceremony echoing in from outside.
As the flag-raising and the review of the guard of honour came to an end, Hai was stirred, awaiting the moment when he would be transferred to Ship 571 along with the working delegation for further treatment on the mainland.
A medical worker at the Truong Sa Medical Station provides treatment and care for Do Van Hai. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Meeting an accident at sea, Hai was admitted to the medial station on April 18 with multiple soft tissue injuries, especially those to the scalp and to both arms. His prognosis was dire, with the possibility of amputating his right arm due to nerve and vascular damage and a high risk of blood loss.
A duty roster at the Truong Sa Medical Station. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Facing this critical situation, the medical station reported to the Truong Sa Command to mobilise soldiers on the island to urgently donate blood saving the life of the patient, who has rare blood type B+. Upon receiving the information, two soldiers immediately donated their blood that night. Thanks to prompt medical care, Hai stabilised.
On April 21, 65-years-old Pham Tat Tuyen, a Vietnamese expatriate in Belarus, brought his wife, Pham Alla Pavlovna, 54, to the emergency room in a state of high, unstable blood pressure, and rapid heart rate.
After three hours in the emergency room, the patient gradually returned to normal and was able to board Ship 571 continuing her journey with the working delegation with further medical monitoring by military medical personnel.
A medical worker at the Truong Sa Medical Station and military doctors on Ship 571 conducts examination and treatment for Pham Alla Pavlovna. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Accommodating 10 beds, the four-storey Truong Sa Medical Station is currently equipped with various functional facilities such as the areas for outpatients, internal medicine, emergency, operation, maternity, X-ray, and examination, among others. It ensures the service for coastal residents, fulfilling the functions as a hospital on the mainland. For hospitalised cases, if sufficient equipment is available on the island, the doctors and medical staff directly provide treatment. For those beyond the center's capabilities, patients are transported to the mainland for treatment by Hospital 175’s aircraft.
Transferring the fisherman from Ship 571 to the mainland. (Photo: VietnamPlus) In 2022, the Truong Sa Medical Station examined and treated nearly 1,400 persons, and performed emergency treatment in 33 cases. The figures were 477 persons and 13 cases in the first quarter of 2023.
Rear Admiral Pham Van Hung, Deputy Chief of the Staff of the Vietnam People's Navy, stated that on the island, the soldiers are the backbone force ensuring the security and defence of the sea and islands and provide support for the livelihoods of local fishermen. They also donate blood to save the lives of fishermen in urgent and necessary cases.
The working delegation delivers gifts to patients and medical stations on Truong Sa archipelago. (Photo: VietnamPlus) For the members of the working delegation No. 4, their journey to Truong Sa was an indescribable emotional experience. During the voyage back to the mainland, they raised over 40 million VND (1,676 USD) to support Hai - the injured fisherman.
Pham Alla Pavlovna and her husband bid farewell to Truong Sa with a radiant expression. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Bidding farewell to Truong Sa and the ship, Pham Alla Pavlovna was overwhelmed with emotions, expressing her gratitude to the military medical personnel at the medical station and the military force of Ship 571 for providing her with timely care and medication. This allowed her to maintain good health throughout the past journey and return to the mainland safely./.
