Medical staff busy at Ho Chi Minh City biggest Covid-19 field hospital

Nearly 200 medical staff and 100 local militia personnel of the largest field hospital in Ho Chi Minh City are treating and caring for 3,400 Covid-19 patients.

Nearly 200 medical staff and 100 local militia personnel of the largest field hospital in Ho Chi Minh City are treating and caring for 3,400 Covid-19 patients.

  

Nearly 200 medical staff and 100 local militia personnel work at the biggest field hospital in HCM City

The hospital opened on July 11 with 6,000 beds and has already received 3,400 patients. Each medical worker is responsible for 20 patients on average.

The militia helps in the transportation of foods and necessities to the hospital. Dr Trinh Minh Giang also gave them guidance about procedures when dealing with positive patients.

"Our schedules are very tight and we nearly have no time to rest," Giang said. "Because of thin personnel, we also have to help provide meals and other daily necessities to the patients."

  

Bringing food to the patients

Dr Truong Nhat Cuong, the coordinator at the hospital, said they mostly receive patients with light or non-existent symptoms. Patients in serious condition will be transferred to other hospitals with better equipment.

They mostly take body temperatures and check if any symptoms appear among the patients who do not show any symptoms. Patients with light symptoms will be given medicine based on their condition. A shift often lasts for 14 hours.

After each shift, the staff are disinfected before they can leave the treatment area.

  

Staff disinfected before leaving the area

Dr Phan Minh Hoang, director of the field hospital, said, "The number of positive patients placed huge pressure on our system. The field hospital only opened recently so many parts are still incomplete. There are still many things that need to be done."

10,000 meals are brought to the patients each day by the militia. The staff always remind the patients to follow preventive measures and social distancing rules.

All of the staff stay in a separated building block and are tested regularly.