Vietnamese “blue beret” doctors save UN peacekeeper lives

Doctors of the L2FH Rotation 3 of Vietnam at UNMISS have performed four surgeries for UN peacekeepers in South Sudan so far this year. — Photo L2FH Rotation 3 of Vietnam at UNMISS

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese “blue beret” doctors at Level-two Field Hospital (L2FH) Rotation 3 at the UN peacekeeping mission in South Suda have successfully performed four operations for UN peacekeepers in South Sudan this year.

Of the four operations, three were appendicitis surgeries on patients suffering chronic appendicitis and showing atypical clinical symptoms for about a year.

The three South Sudan peacekeepers received check-ups in many other hospitals where doctors failed to diagnose their exact disease and treat them effectively.

After careful examination, Vietnamese doctors detected the rare disease and conducted surgery. The successful surgeries ended persistent pain in the patients and enabled them to resume a normal life.

The anaesthetic technique of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block was applied to the patients to help them reduce post-surgery pain and recover faster.

The fourth operation was on a patient with an abscess near the anus, about 10cm in size, causing severe pains with risks of systemic infection.

Before being treated at the L2FH Rotation 3 of Việt Nam, the patient received treatment at the UN Level-1 Hospital many times, but his condition did not improve.

The patient recovered well after the successful surgery and was discharged shortly after.

In his thank-you letter sent to the L2FH Rotation 3 of Việt Nam, Bwangani Issac, a UN security officer, wrote that the hospital provided excellent medical quality.

H said that the Vietnamese food is wonderful, especially the porridge, and expressed his appreciation to the Government of Việt Nam and the UN for having sent the best doctors and nurses to South Sudan to protect the lives of UN staff.

All the patients receiving treatment at the hospital showed their satisfaction. They extended gratitude to Vietnamese doctors, expressing warm regards towards the nation and people of Việt Nam. — VnExpress News