Support offered to students staying at university dorms during the COVID-19 pandemic

Medical workers visit and give medicines and necessities to students under treatment at Mễ Trì Dorm of the Việt Nam National University, Hà Nội. — VNA/VnExpress News Photo

HÀ NỘI — Students staying at university dorms in Hà Nội have been receiving support so they can continue their studies and access proper medical care if they are infected with COVID-19.

Nguyễn Văn Minh, Deputy Head of the Management Board of Mễ Trì Dormitory, Student Support Centre under the Việt Nam National University in Hà Nội, said that the dorm housed nearly 2,000 students. As soon as the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the dorm management board implemented many solutions to prevent and control the infection.

Every student was told about preventive and control measures, Minh said, adding that they opened an isolation area and tightened food safety measures at the cafeteria.

“As students returned to school after the Tết holiday, Mễ Trì Dorm saw rising COVID-19 infections among students,” Minh said.

“At the beginning, a building was used as a quarantine area for students infected with the coronavirus. However, since the number of new COVID-19 infections kept increasing sharply, students are allowed to quarantine in their rooms,” Minh said, adding that the students were given necessities, medicines and advice.

This support helped to reassure students who have to live away from home during their illness, Minh said.

Students buy food at the canteen of Mễ Trì Dorm. — VNA/VnExpress News Photo

Trần Thu Vân, a student at the Faculty of Journalism, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said that she and her family used to be very worried about the development of COVID-19 in Hà Nội, especially as it was the first time she lived away from home.

“Going to university, starting a life in the dorm, I brought along medicines and rapid COVID-19 test kits,” Vân said.

“At first, I was worried when the number of infections in the dormitory increased but then, I saw the facilities for COVID-19 cases here were very good. Outside the gate of the dormitory is the clinic of the National University Hospital. The room is clean and if you are infected, you just need to call the canteen and they will help bring food to the room,” she said.

“Some of my friends got COVID-19. They were all asked to self-isolate in their rooms and have now recovered from the disease,” Vân said.

The dormitory of Thương Mại University now has 35 students with COVID-19.

Nguyễn Việt Thái, head of the university’s External Affairs and Communication Department, said that the dormitory was now both a place for students to learn online and quarantine as well.

Students with COVID-19 were offered separate accommodation, necessities and free medical treatment. The school also has a team of volunteers to support the students.

Students who do not live in the university dorm can move to the university’s quarantine area if they get COVID-19, Thái said, adding that all students would get help and advice.

At the dormitory of Hà Nội University of Science and Technology, there are also 20 students infected with COVID-19.

Nguyễn Hữu Khôi, Director of the university’s Dormitory Management Centre, said that students were provided with accommodation, medicine and necessities.

The dormitory management board also arranged a medical team to give students advice online.

Khôi said that they also introduced restaurants with good hygienic conditions and reasonable prices so that students could order food.

Psychological care

The leaders of the schools, as well as the dormitory management, found that psychological treatment is a matter of special concern. They are all students from out of town, studying far from home, so the role of teachers, officials and staff of the dormitory is especially important.

Minh from Mễ Trì Dorm said they set up Zalo group to manage F0 students online. In the group, there are officials and employees of the dormitory management board, doctors and medical staff on duty.

“We will promptly answer any questions students have,” he said.

Doctor Nguyễn Quang Tâm, from the School Health Department of Hà Nội National University Hospital, said that many students who are not infected with SARS-CoV-2 suffer anxiety and psychological instability.

“At this time, medical staff and doctors must always encourage them, instruct the students to take care of their own health according to the instructions of the medical staff,” he said.

Tâm said that most cases with severe symptoms were due to stress factors. There are no serious developments of the disease.

In some cases, after examination, the vital signs of the students were stable, Tâm said, adding that it was necessary to encourage and guide them to continue taking care of their health and remain calm. — VnExpress News