A trusted pillar amidst Ebola threat
Military medical personnel with Vietnam's Engineering Company Rotation 4 have strengthened the unit's reputation through community health initiatives carried out despite limited resources and disease threats.
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Members of Vietnam's Engineering Company Rotation 4 present medical supplies for disease prevention and control to the local community in Abyei. |
As Ebola outbreaks spread across several African countries, the company's Chain-of-command ensured the unit became a reliable support source by providing timely assistance.
The Level-1 Field Hospital (L1FH) organized advanced epidemiological training for personnel, reinforced prevention measures, and supported local residents. The unit also donated essential medical supplies to hospitals, schools, and churches.
During the rainy season, much of Abyei is submerged, creating conditions for diseases like Ebola and malaria to spread, threatening local communities and children. To establish "green zones" in schools, L1FH personnel demonstrated the "no-touch" principle and guided children through six-step handwashing procedures.
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School-based health education activities help raise students' awareness of disease prevention. |
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A lively “handwashing dance” teaches students proper hand hygiene practices. |
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Vietnamese blue berets demonstrate the correct handwashing technique to schoolchildren. |
The hospital expanded its public health education campaign, equipping communities with epidemiological knowledge. Cheerful "handwashing dances" introduced by Vietnamese medical staff spread from schools to villages, transforming hygiene lessons into healthy habits.
Blue berets’ carpentry workshop
According to Colonel Trinh Van Cuong, Head of Engineering Company Rotation 4 and Head of Vietnam's peacekeeping force in Abyei, the unit views education and skills development as vital to its mission.
To achieve lasting recovery, Abyei needs practical support that builds a long-term future through education and vocational training.
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Local students receive hands-on carpentry training at the unit's workshop inside the camp. |
When Engineering Company Rotation 4 handed over the renovated Minyang Primary School, the joy of teachers and students was clear. The school was structurally reinforced and equipped with 60 new sets of desks and chairs. The four-classroom building now accommodates 320 to 400 students, while the new furniture improved conditions for around 180 children.
Karbino Dut, Abyei's Minister of Education, said, "You have not only repaired roads but also inspired the younger generation to value learning and hard work. Your warm and deeply humanitarian presence is the clearest demonstration of the noble values we all strive to uphold."
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Vietnamese military engineers repair damaged roofs, providing children with safe and secure classrooms. |
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Ceremony to inaugurate and hand over the renovated classrooms at Minyang Primary School |
Before the project, storm damage had blown away roofs at Minyang Primary School, forcing children to study without desks or chairs on bare ground or under trees. The practical support provided by Vietnam's blue berets represented vital assistance for children in a conflict-affected region.
The project also focused on capacity building through carpentry training for around 100 local students, who learned tool safety, measuring, and basic woodworking techniques.
The company's workshop became a vocational classroom where students held saws or measuring tapes for the first time, assembling desks and chairs for their school under the guidance of Vietnamese soldiers.
The program was designed to foster self-reliance while equipping young people with practical skills for future livelihoods.
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The joy in the children's eyes as they study in safe classrooms equipped with proper desks and chairs. |
According to an article on the official website of UNISFA, the project reflected Vietnam's commitment to supporting local communities through sustainable initiatives, creating opportunities and hope for future generations.
Colonel Trinh Van Cuong added: "The Mission's awards, commendation letters and expressions of gratitude from the local authorities are a tremendous honor for us. But for Vietnam's blue berets in Abyei, the greatest reward is witnessing the gradual transformation of this land and seeing peaceful smiles on the faces of its people."
Today, the words "Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh" have become a warm greeting offered to Vietnam's blue berets, reflecting the nation's commitment to global peace, cooperation, and sustainable development.
By Nguyen Nghia - Hai Yen (Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations)
Translated by Mai Huong