Hospital Ship 561 of Brigade 955, Naval Region 4, traveled to the islands as part of the mission. Depending on local conditions, medical personnel either conducted examinations and health consultations aboard the ship or traveled by boat to the islands.
    |
 |
|
Officers and soldiers having their health checked |
On Truong Sa (Spratly) Island, the chain-of-command of the island worked with the medical team to develop a detailed plan to ensure examinations were carried out effectively without disrupting routine activities. Aboard Hospital Ship 561, doctors and medical personnel prepared equipment and organized patients for examinations early in the morning.
The team conducted general health checks, dermatological, dental and maxillofacial examinations, ultrasound scans, electrocardiograms and cancer screenings, while providing treatment advice. Hundreds of officers, soldiers and residents received medical examinations and health consultations.
|
|
 |
|
A doctor conducts ultrasound examinations and cancer screenings on a soldier. |
Troops and locals expressed their gratitude to doctors and nurses. They said that the regular and timely health examinations gave troops greater peace of mind in carrying out their duties.
Dr. Le Van Thanh, Deputy Director of Hanoi Oncology Hospital, who joined the the healthcare mission to Truong Sa for the first time, described it as his longest and most special mission, a journey to the country’s sacred archipelago, and an opportunity to care for those safeguarding Vietnam’s sovereignty over sea and islands day and night. It was also the largest number of patients he had examined during a single medical mission.
|
|
 |
|
A pediatric doctor from Bach Mai Hospital examines the teeth of a young resident on Sin Cowe Island. |
On Sin Cowe Island, obstetric, gynecological and pediatric doctors examined women and children and gave them methods to protect their health. Mai Thi Ut Lan, a local resident, expressed her happiness and appreciation for receiving care from leading doctors from major hospitals, saying such attention gave islanders better health and greater motivation to continue living and working there.
The voyage was not without difficulties. Colonel Dao Hong Thang, Deputy Chief of Logistics and Technical Services of Naval Region 4 and head of the mission, said that rough seas, strong winds and difficult weather conditions left many doctors and medical personnel, particularly those at sea for the first time, exhausted and seasick. Some were unable to eat.
|
|
 |
|
Medical personnel also performed several procedures to treat injuries among patients on islands. |
Despite these challenges, whenever Hospital Ship 561 anchored or reached an island, the medical personnel overcame their fatigue and carried out their duties. According to Col. Thang, despite suffering from seasickness, doctors provided troops and residents with dedicated and thorough examinations and consultations.
After traveling hundreds of nautical miles, more than 100 doctors and medical personnel successfully completed the mission. The voyage contributed to improving healthcare for troops and residents in Truong Sa special zone while bringing the care and support of the mainland to those living and serving on the islands.
Translated by Tran Hoai