"Bap and Sua were both left by their mothers right after giving birth at the Gia Dinh People's Hospital. Bap's mother then told doctors on the phone that she would come to take her baby after being treated for Covid-19 but it's been five months and she has not returned. Meanwhile, Sua's mother did not leave any contact details. The two babies were found infected with Covid-19 at birth and have recovered. They are still staying in the care of doctors at the hospital.
Five-month-old Bap is abandoned by his parents since birth
"When trying to contact Bap's mother, we were told that she was a drug addict and was facing financial difficulties after losing her job in the recent Covid-19 outbreak, and that she could not support the baby and asked us to help her take care of him," said doctor Nguyen Tran Thi Huyen Dung at the hospital's Neonatal Ward. "The same reason has also been given by many other mothers after leaving their babies with us."
Doctor Dung said that the latest case was a baby girl who was born premature, weighing only 1.8 kilos and suffering from respiratory failure.
"We only know that her mother is from an ethnic minority group," the doctor said. "She quietly left the hospital right after giving birth and only left a phone number which is always out of coverage area. Now the baby's condition is getting better and we can only hope that she will return to take her."
"This is the 10th baby abandoned at the hospital so far this year," the doctor added. "The figure is actually a decrease compared to previous years."
A doctor holds an abandoned child at the Gia Dinh People's Hospital in HCM City
According to a nurse, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Uyen, the medical treatment for these babies are covered by health insurance while the hospital is paying all other expenses when taking care of them.
"It normally costs about VND 7 million (USD304) a month to raise a healthy baby here," she said. "Many doctors and nurses are helping by buying clothes, food and toys for them. The hospital has had to call for further donations from the public to help take care of these babies. They will be sent to orphanages when they are three or four months old and in good health if their families don't come to take them."
However, the orphanages are not receiving new children during the Covid-19 pandemic, which means that the hospital will have to take care of the babies for a longer time.
If you can help please donate through:
1. Code 4269:
Social Activities Department - Gia Dinh People's Hospital, Binh Thanh District, HCM City
Tel: (028) 35100072
Bank Account: 31910000146650, Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam, Phu My Hung Branch.
Account Holder: BENH VIEN NHAN DAN GIA DINH - CONG TAC XA HOI
Represented by: Nguyen Thuy Uyen, Tel: 02835510104
2. Dantri/DTiNews Online Newspaper
No. 2 Giang Vo Str., Dong Da Dist., Hanoi
Tel: 024. 3. 7366.491/ Fax: 024. 3. 7366.490
Email: nhanai@dantri.com.vn
* Vietnam Dong Account information at Vietcombank:
Account holder: Bao Dien tu Dan tri
Account number: 1017378606
With Bank: THE BANK FOR FOREIGN TRADE OF VIETNAM – Thanh Cong Branch
* US Dollar Account information at Vietcombank:
Account holder: Bao Dien tu Dan tri
Account number: 1017780241
SWIFT Code: BFTV VNVX 045
With Bank: THE BANK FOR FOREIGN TRADE OF VIETNAM
* Vietnam Dong Account information at Vietinbank:
Account holder: Bao Dien tu Dan tri
Account number: 126000081304
With Bank: Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade – Hoan Kiem Branch
* Vietnam Dong Account information at BIDV
Account holder: Bao Dien tu Dan tri
Account number: 26110002631994
At: Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam, Trang An Branch
Address: No. 11, Cua Bac Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi; Tel: 0436869656.
* Vietnam Dong Account information at MB Bank:
Account holder: Bao Dien tu Dan tri
Account number: 0231195149383
With Bank: MILITARY COMMERCIAL JOINT STOCK BANK - Thai Thinh Branch, Hanoi
* Vietnam Dong Account information at Agribank:
- Account holder: Bao Dien tu Dan tri
- Account number: 1400206035022
- At Agribank, Lang Ha Branch, Hanoi
* Vietnam Dong Account information at SHB:
- Account holder: Bao Dien tu Dan tri
- Account number: 1017589681
- At SHB, Hanoi branch
3. Dantri/DTiNews' representative offices
Da Nang office: 25 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Thanh Khe District, Da Nang City, Tel: 0236. 3653 725
HCM City: No. 51 Vo Van Tan, Ward 6, District 3, HCM City; Tel: 028. 3517 6331 (during working hours) or hotline 0974567567
Can Tho Office: 2 Hoa Binh Avenue, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City, Tel: 0292.3.733.269
