Warmth of human affection amid the pandemic in the Western region of Nghe An

But then, those haunting memories quickly passed. After the pandemic, what remained were deep feelings of gratitude and affection.

Engraved gratitude

In the mountainous districts of western Nghe An (where socio-economic conditions are difficult), the Covid-19 epidemic has been raging and spreading rapidly. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused many villages to be locked down; gardens are empty, houses are empty; people are going for treatment;centralized quarantine, some are quarantined at home. For many ethnic minorities in the western mountainous region of Nghe An, “having Covid-19” hides many fears and anxieties. This stems from self-consciousness, discrimination… and also worries about their career and livelihood, including gardens and livestock that no one cares for.

Mr. VBC confided about the affection he received when returning to his hometown to quarantine to prevent the epidemic. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Ms. CTL (born in 1979, in Cham Puong village) was the first community infection recorded in the "epidemic" in the poor Kho Mu village of Luong Minh commune, Tuong Duong district. She recounted the haunting experiences she had: A few days before going to the clinic, my daughter-in-law (MTH) and my grandchild (CTBN) in the house had a fever, cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing, and fatigue. Not knowing what disease we had, on July 13, mother, child, and grandmother went to the District Health Center for examination and were tested for Covid-19. After that, my husband, Mr. MVX, was also confirmed to have Covid-19...

The propaganda work on epidemic prevention in border districts always has the participation of border guards. Photo: Thanh Cuong

In remote areas, awareness of the disease is limited. When Ms. CTL got sick, her family was extremely scared because they did not know what Covid-19 was like. They only knew that many people had died from the disease. In addition, the family was also very sad because there were bad rumors related to some people in the family having bad relationships, causing the disease to spread to the village (while she and her daughter-in-law have not left the village or come into contact with strangers for many months). They were even more worried when 4/5 people in the family got sick, the remaining person was quarantined, and no one took care of the buffalo and cows in the fields... Perhaps because of these haunting thoughts, when they went to Nghe An Field Hospital No. 1 for treatment, 3/4 people got worse.

Ms. CTL in Cham Puong village shares her sadness and joy after being infected with Covid-19. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Ms. CTL said: When we got there, our condition got worse, but fortunately, the doctors at the hospital took good care of us. The doctors explained to the whole family about Covid-19; regularly visited, cared for, encouraged and provided special care. Everyone was given enough food and drink; the children were also given milk and gifts. Thanks to that, some people recovered completely in 3 weeks, some in 1 month and others in 3 weeks.

Even happier, when returning to the village, Mrs. CTL learned that: During the time the whole family was in quarantine, the fields, gardens, and livestock of her family were looked after, plowed, and everything was done carefully, thoughtfully, and cleanly by police officers, soldiers, and militiamen... Everyone in the village knew more about the Covid-19 disease and no longer misunderstood her family as "criminals" spreading the disease. The propaganda work about the epidemic was promoted, awareness was raised, and bad rumors automatically disappeared. Mrs. CTL expressed her gratitude: "Thank you very much to the Party, the State, the doctors and the anti-epidemic forces, who have wholeheartedly taken care of and saved my whole family."

The family of LVS patient in Cham Puong village returns to a peaceful life after the pandemic. Photo: Thanh Cuong

There have been 23 people infected with Covid-19 identified in the Cham Puong outbreak. In the family of Mr. LVS (born in 1982), 5 out of 6 people are infected. Sharing the same sentiment as Mrs. CT.L, Mr. LVS shared: “The family did not know how they were infected, so they were very confused at first. After being tested, on July 16, 5 people were taken to the Field Hospital for treatment. At the hospital, each person stayed in a room and was examined 3 times a day. The food was provided in sufficient quantity and was very delicious, so when they recovered, everyone gained 3-5 kg. After recovering and returning home, the family also received support and food donations to help overcome difficulties after the epidemic. Thank you very much to the departments, organizations, officials and people in the province.”

Also according to Mr. LVS: After the pandemic, people have more faith in the leadership of the Party and local authorities and from there strive to improve their lives. They have been more informed and have a better understanding of the epidemic: In the village now, people coming, going, and returning are all strictly controlled and declared. People are self-consciously implementing the 5K recommendations. Many young people have also started working far away after receiving the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Improve self-awareness

Cumulatively from the beginning of the epidemic season to the morning of December 13, the province has recorded 5,797 Covid-19 patients in 21 localities. Of which, more than 1,000 people infected with Covid-19 are workers returning from southern provinces and cities.

Mr. VBC (23 years old, in Nam Can commune, Ky Son district) is a patient returning from Binh Duong province. He shared: “I work in a wood company in Binh Duong province. When the epidemic broke out, the company allowed employees to stay in the factory to work. But because there were too many people, many people were not aware, ordering things, ordering milk tea from outside... If one person was infected, the entire factory would be infected, so I quit my job, stayed there for half a month, then rode my motorbike back to my hometown.”

Authorities carry out epidemic prevention in Nhon Mai commune. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Mr. VBC and his wife, Ms. TYT (20 years old), traveled by motorbike for 3 days from Binh Duong to Ky Son district. The couple were quarantined at the commune's centralized quarantine area. After 6 days, on August 3, VBC was found to be infected with Covid-19. Mr. VBC said: "It is very possible that I was infected on the way back to my hometown. Luckily, I only got sick when I got home, but I don't know if it happened there or on the way. My wife and I have only been working for 2 months, and we don't have any savings..."

On the first day he was diagnosed with Covid-19, VBC was very depressed, tired, confused, and afraid of being discriminated against and shunned. This state quickly disappeared when he went to the Field Hospital for treatment. The doctors and nurses took good care of him, visited him regularly and encouraged him, so his spirit returned to normal. After several days of not being able to eat or drink, VBC felt more optimistic. “After 19 days of treatment, I gained 2 kg”…

Epidemic prevention work in Nhon Mai commune is being carried out drastically. Photo: Thanh Cuong

After recovering from the disease and returning home, Mr. VBC - TYT and his wife have been trying to work on the fields and raise livestock in the commune; prevent the Covid-19 epidemic, waiting for the day the epidemic subsides to continue working for the company. VBC shared: "Working far away, earning money to build a life for the family and the locality is also a way to repay the love of his hometown, isn't it?"

At this time, in the mountainous districts of Western Nghe An, there have been and are large and complicated Covid-19 outbreaks: Nhon Mai and Xa Luong communes (Tuong Duong); Chau Tien, Chau Thang, Chau Binh communes (Quy Chau); Muong Noc, Tri Le communes, Kim Son town (Que Phong)... To prevent the epidemic, the health sector, the government and local departments and organizations have been and are "stretching" to do their best. Many health workers are still working day and night to fight the epidemic; many village cadres are actively fighting the epidemic, without pay. There are anti-epidemic cadres in Muong Noc and Chau Binh communes who suppress their pain, trying to endure their own illness to stay; there are ambulance drivers transporting Covid-19 patients in Tuong Duong who still drive 750km every day...

People of Huu Lap commune set up temporary houses for citizens returning for quarantine. Photo: Thanh Cuong

To create convenience and efficiency for people and patients, the Party, the State and all levels of the sector have directed the implementation of F1 isolation at home, moving towards treating F0 at home. Creating convenience for patients and people means that the work of the functional forces has increased... Despite many efforts, the work of preventing and fighting the Covid-19 epidemic in mountainous areas is still facing many difficulties due to specific factors such as awareness, old habits, and poor compliance with epidemic prevention regulations. Somewhere, there has been a situation where people have arbitrarily left the blockade area, causing the epidemic to spread. With that situation, the Covid-19 Prevention and Control Command Center has had to request localities to strictly handle violations of epidemic prevention regulations.

The Party, the State, localities and functional agencies have been and are doing their utmost and wholeheartedly for the people. Hopefully, all people need to transform their awareness from gratitude to concrete actions in the fight against the epidemic, first of all, the spirit of self-awareness in fighting the epidemic./.