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Being a “blue beret” is the pride of all female personnel of L2FH Rotation 5. |
These excellent female military doctors and nurses will temporarily put aside their obligations as mothers and wives to carry out international mission in a foreign country. Wearing the peacekeeping force’s uniforms, the female Vietnamese medical personnel with their enthusiasm, talent, youth, and desire to make contribution to building a better world are now ready to undertake and fulfill missions entrusted by the Party, State, and military.
Coming to the training area, we were touched seeing Non-commissioned Senior Captain Duong Kieu Loan, a nurse of the L2FH Rotation 5, cut her waist-length hair in preparation for her duties in South Sudan.
For Loan, cutting the long hair was the hardest decision that she had ever made. She said that the new “tomboy” hairstyle makes her look stronger, but importantly it demonstrates her readiness and singleness of mind to the international mission. “After ten years working in the military medical sector, I am about to embrace a new challenge. Being a “blue beret” is what I have longed for years,” said the young nurse.
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Female personnel providing emergency aid to patients |
Talking about her decision to join the hospital, Ms. Loan said that what she learnt about the life of people in Africa, especially children, as well as the weather there while preparing for the duties have urged her to head for the foreign country to share and support those in difficult circumstances.
Fully aware of the honor of joining U.N. peacekeeping operations, the young servicewoman has exerted utmost efforts to enhance her command of English, which, for her, is the biggest challenge, to meet all requirements of the U.N. “Now my only desire is to devote my knowledge and skills to the L2FH Rotation 5,” said Ms. Loan.
Meanwhile, Non-commissioned First Lieutenant Tran Nhu Ngoc, a nurse of the L2FH Rotation 5’s Outpatient Department treasures the opportunity to meet and work with foreign experts and instructors during the one-year training at Military Hospital 175. It has helped her enhance English skills and professional conduct in life and at work.
“I admired and was impressed with what Vietnamese blue berets have done to the nation and the world. That urged me to voluntarily join the L2FH Rotation 5 to contribute my youth and enthusiasm to beautifying the image of Uncle Ho’s soldiers in international friends’ eyes. This is the precious time for us to enrich our knowledge and perfect ourselves,” said Ms. Ngoc.
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L2FH Rotation 5’s personnel in an artistic performances for the upcoming cultural exchange at the mission |
For Non-commissioned Captain Nguyen Thi Nhu Ngoc, a nurse from the Department of Surgery of L2FH Rotation 5, being a member of the hospital is more special to her since this is the second time that she has carried out the mission in South Sudan. Previously, Ngoc completed the duty as a member of the L2FH Rotation 3. Over the past time, the young nurse has shared her valuable practical experience with her colleagues, thus helping them feel secure and get well-prepared for the future tasks.
It is the encouragement and support from colleagues like Ngoc as well as the hospital’s leaders that have helped young female personnel of the L2FH Rotation 5 endure harsh training environment and busy study schedule and overcome homesickness to become indispensable parts in the hospital’s organization. Interesting stories told by those who had carried out missions in international environment have added more power to and triggered the female medical staff’s aspirations to make contribution.
Before the deployment, six outstanding members of the L2FH Rotation 5 had the honor of being admitted to the Party. Non-commissioned Lieutenant Bui Thi Hue, a nurse from the hospital’s Outpatient Department, was among the new Party members. She said that joining training courses helped her realize weaknesses and be more confident. More importantly, they made her fully aware of the honor of joining U.N. peacekeeping operations.
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Six outstanding members admitted to the Party before the deployment |
According to Ms. Hue, being a “blue beret” is a challenge, but also an opportunity for her to contribute youth to the Fatherland. Considering the admission to the Party right before the deployment an unforgettable milestone in her life, the young nurse said that the Party membership will remind her of trying harder and enhancing responsibility, stance, and vanguard spirit to successfully complete international duties entrusted by the Party, State, and military.
Sharing the same happiness as Hue, Non-commissioned Lieutenant Tran Nhu Ngoc said that everything is ready, and she and her colleagues are looking forward to the moment when they arrive at UNMISS.
According to President of Women’s Association of L2FH Rotation 5, Non-commissioned Captain Nguyen Thi Thanh Hang, the hospital has prepared many special items to disseminate information about Vietnam, its culture and people to international friends. Apart from enriching their knowledge, female personnel have equipped themselves with cooking, singing, dancing, knitting, and calligraphy skills, among others.
Among the hospital’s female personnel, six are married and have children. However, thanks to the support and encouragement from their families, all of them are determined to undertake and fulfill future missions. “I will grasp this rare opportunity and try my best to complete the mission so that later I can tell my children about their mother's youth at the U.N. peacekeeping mission," said Hang.
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L2FH Rotation 5’s female personnel pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh and launch an emulation movement before the deployment. |
According to the L2FH Rotation 5’s Director Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Ha Ngoc, female personnel are not only good at professional expertise, but also key to activities to popularize Vietnam, its people and culture to international friends. He confirmed that the hospital’s leadership will create favorable conditions for the female personnel to strengthen solidarity and fulfill assigned missions, contributing to building the beautiful image of doctors and nurses of the Vietnam People’s Army at U.N. peacekeeping missions.
Translated by Tran Hoai