A solemn Vietnamese flag-raising ceremony was also held, marking the moment when the United Kingdom L2FH officially had stopped its responsibility, and the Vietnamese L2FH to Vietnam started its operation in Bentiu.
Addressing the ceremony, Ms. Hiroko Hirahara, Chief of the UNMISS Field Office in Bentiu, expressed her thank to the UK's L2FH for its contributions to taking care of the forces stationed in Bentiu and people of South Sudan. "The UK's level-2 field hospital has done its great mission," said Hiroko Hirahara.
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A solemn Vietnamese flag-raising ceremony |
Welcoming Vietnamese L2FH No. 1, she highlighted the difficulties that Vietnam will face in the coming time. "UNMISS's family in Bentiu is looking forward to working with Vietnamese medical staff. There have been many changes that we have made for South Sudan. Let's continue to cooperate. You are now become part of the Bentiu family," she noted.
After the hand-over ceremony, the UK's L2FH will gradually withdraw its forces from Bentiu in the next few weeks. At the beginning of the transfer, the UK hospital will continue to support Vietnam in professional expertise and still provide some treatment to patients in urgent cases.
The Vietnamese L2FH will mainly care for UNMISS staff, members of the forces settled in Bentiu, and local people in South Sudan in emergency situations.
Immediately, the staff of Vietnam’s L2FH No.1 is preparing conditions to receive first patients under the permission of the UNMISS Health Services Section. As scheduled, leaders of this agency will arrive in Bentiu to evaluate the capacity of the Vietnam’s L2FH No.1 before approving the hospital to receive first patients.
According to Major Nguyen Thanh Cong, Deputy Director in charge of Vietnamese L2FH No.1's professional expertise, after deploying the entire forces to Bentiu, the hospital promptly installed medical equipment and machinery for health examination and treatment at the temporary working site with canvas tents handed over by the UK’s L2FH. In spite of the harsh weather condition, doctors, nurses and technicians of the Vietnam's L2FH have made great efforts to quickly complete their working facilities, ensuring basic conditions for medical examination and treatment.
Translated by Lam Anh