Relieving in Sibut
Major Nguyen Van Phong, Head of the military observer team No.207 in the U.N. Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), held that he heard about the love of African people towards President Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap, as well as Vietnam through its heroic history before. When he had an opportunity to work in the area, he was really “moved and proud,” as the name of his Fatherland was mentioned by local people with admiration and sympathy in a faraway place.
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Major Phong collects information from the head of a village during a night patrol. |
As Head of the military observer team No.207 at Sibut camp in the MINUSCA, Major Phong has never forgotten the day his comrades and he were helped out of danger thanks to the word “Vietnam” when they met a group of local protestors. One day, they came to Wourougbou village in Kemo district to conduct a regular patrol. As military observers, they met with the head of the village to collect information about the locality, pandemic, and security situation. However, they were suddenly surrounded by local people. They asked for food, water and money, at the same time, expressed their dissatisfaction because the demands they made two months ago were not implemented.
As regulated, the U.N. staffers were not allowed to meet all local people’s demands or provide them with food. After nearly an hour of negotiation in vain, Major Phong introduced himself as a military officer of the Vietnam People’s Army. At that time, local people exclaimed, “Wow Vietnam! Vietnam is good! Dien Bien Phu, General Giap, President Ho Chi Minh.” Many of them also recalled the Vietnamese people’s victory during resistance wars against foreign invaders.
While the topic of Vietnam was being discussed enthusiastically, he took the opportunity to tell his team mates to leave the village so that local people had time to calm down.
Vietnamese nun in Bangassou
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Major Phong and Ms. Elisabeth Nguyen (second from right) and her colleagues at Bangassou hospital |
As regulated, a military observer has to shift to another working place every six months. Therefore, Major Phong was no longer working in Sibut, but in Bangassou this time. In the new location, he had another interesting experience about local people’s love for Vietnam. He met with a Vietnamese nun named Elisabeth Nguyen, who is in charge of Bangassou hospital in Mbomou district. She, from Ben Tre province, is an expert in HIV/AIDS prevention and control, and has worked in the Central African Republic for eight years. The hospital had only one doctor dispatched from Bangui capital and 28 nurses, and Ms. Elisabeth Nguyen is also the manager. At the hospital, due to the lack of personnel, nurses not only take care of patients but also have to undertake medical examination and treatment.
Elisabeth Nguyen is famous for her wholeheartedness and kindness. She is loved by local people through her activities of examining HIV/AIDS and leprosy patients. She always wholeheartedly cares for the patients. In addition to working at the hospital, she also actively participates in mobile medical examinations at prisons, orphanages or schools, and more.
Major Phong got to know her accidentally thanks to a man working at a vehicle repairing station at a U.N. camp in Bangassou. He regarded Elisabeth Nguyen as his sister, a family member, and a local native resident. Therefore, Major Phong had many advantages working in the area thanks to the reputation of the Vietnamese people.
Meeting a famous compatriot in the area, Major Phong was happy and surprised. They shared joy and pride because they were doing meaningful work together in conflict-affected poor localities, contributing to spreading the image of Vietnam among local people.
Translated by Minh Anh