In addition to its major task of taking care of people and troops’ health, the hospital’s staffers also joined the fight to protect Hanoi. Over the past 50 years, they have overcome the difficulties of war's aftermath to restore the hospital and make it the country’s first “special-class general hospital.”
Staying brave and strong under bombardment
On December 22, 1972, Bach Mai Hospital was attacked by the U.S. B-52 Stratofortress while more than 300 patients were under treatment in the basement. The attack destroyed many facilities of the hospital and blocked some tunnels in which there were many doctors, nurses, and technicians who were taking care of patients.
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Professor Do Doan Dai offers incense to his colleagues and patients killed by the U.S. B-52 bombardment. |
On that day, 28 employees of the hospital were killed. After five days, the whole hospital continued their major task, especially saving severely injured patients of the B-52 bombardment in Hanoi. A memorial monument of the 28 fallen medical staff was built right on the place of the building that collapsed.
97-year-old Professor Do Doan Dai, former Director of Bach Mai Hospital (1969-1983) still bears in mind the image of the ruined hospital and his colleagues buried in the hospital’s basement, even though five decades have passed.
“I fought for 12 days and nights. More than half of the heart of the hospital was destroyed. Bombs dropped from the second floor to the first floor and blocked the basement and all entrances and exits. The Surgery, Obstetrics, and Otolaryngology Departments were bombarded, all facilities and equipment were damaged and buried. However, the whole hospital quickly overcame the bombardment’s consequences to fulfill their duties and save patients,” Dai shared.
Former Deputy Head of Administration Department of Bach Mai Hospital Do Tho, who participated in the 12-day-and-night campaign, stated that “on the morning of December 23, 1972, when I arrived at the hospital, it was no longer a hospital. We were all focused on saving people inside the ruined buildings and getting the victims’ bodies out.”
Nguyen Thi Cuc, a hospital staff, will never forget the moment the U.S. B-52 bombed the hospital. “On the night of December 22, 1972, we were sleeping in the hospital’s dormitory when a series of bombs were dropped. Houses collapsed, and bricks and tiles were scattered. After a few minutes of shock, we called each other and knew we were still alive.” After that the enemy aircraft also destroyed two big basements of other departments. At that time, the hospital’s Director Do Doan Dai ordered all the staff to find people under the rubble. “Although it was dark and cold and enemy aircraft were still bombarding the surrounding areas, we rushed to the scene to search for victims,” she added.
Preserving and promoting heroic traditions
During a ceremony in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the “Hanoi - Dien Bien Phu in the air” victory (1972-2022) at Bach Mai Hospital, its Director Dao Xuan Co held that generations have built the hospital to become a leading general hospital in the country with 3,200 planned beds. They have preserved and promoted the hospital’s glorious traditions over the years, particularly during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Besides, they have also overcome difficulties so as to accomplish their tasks, take care of people’s health, especially those in Hanoi.
“As a doctor of Bach Mai Hospital, I am very proud and always try my best to contribute more. In addition, we actively share health care knowledge, organize charity activities for the community,” said Do Anh - a young doctor of the Pediatric Center at Bach Mai Hospital.
Translated by Minh Anh