Dedicated military doctor in green uniform in the border region of Nghe An.

Be present promptly when people need you.

At 8 a.m., while Cao Veu 2 village was still shrouded in the chill of the last days of the lunar February, Mr. Lang Van Khun (born in 1953) was already present at the free clinic and dispensing station - where military doctor Nguyen Ba Luong was on duty.

He recounted that he spent the entire night waiting for morning to go see Dr. Luong for a check-up because he was in so much pain that he couldn't sleep. Since 2022, after a sudden stroke, he has been severely weakened on the left side of his body. These past few days, the changing weather, coupled with his debilitating high blood pressure, has made him extremely tired. For the past two years, Dr. Luong has become very familiar with his condition and has helped him a great deal in his recovery from the stroke.

After completing the examination and prescribing medication for Mr. Khun, military doctor Nguyen Ba Luong (born in 1973) finally had time to share his journey of more than 5 years working in Cao Veu. He has held many positions, with his longest tenure at the Keng Du Commune Health Station (Ky Son) and the Quynh Thuan Border Guard Post (Quynh Luu) before transferring to the Phuc Son Border Guard Post in early 2019.

At that time, the place where we were standing was an old health station that had been out of operation for many years. Since 2013, according to the new plan, the commune health station had been moved to a more central area near National Highway 7. After the doctors, nurses, and all medical supplies and medicines moved away, the station building became deserted.

At that time, the people in the border villages from Cao Veu 1 to Cao Veu 4 of Phuc Son commune were extremely worried. The distance from their homes to the new location of the commune's health station was about 20 km along mountainous roads. For the elderly who didn't know how to ride motorbikes or bicycles, that was a long and arduous journey; not to mention the dangers in urgent cases, such as during floods.

Understanding their plight, the local Party committee, government, and Phuc Son Border Guard Post decided to implement the "Borderland Medicine Cabinet" model, utilizing the old medical station as a clinic to provide medicine to the local people. This is also the first model of its kind implemented by the border guard force in the border area of ​​Nghe An province.

In the early days of implementing the model, in order to obtain medical equipment and a supply of medicines for free treatment for the local people, the Phuc Son Border Guard Station had to call for help from agencies and units in the district and contributions from philanthropists.

In terms of facilities, the soldiers at the outpost worked together to repair, clean, and renovate the buildings, furniture, and equipment. Since February 2019, the model has been operational, and Doctor Nguyen Ba Luong has directly undertaken the task of examining, treating, and dispensing medicine to the local people according to regulations.

Flipping through the carefully recorded pages of patient records detailing names, addresses, and medications dispensed, Dr. Luong stated that since its opening, the clinic has examined and prescribed medication to nearly 5,000 children and adults. And among them, there are cases he will never forget…

In June 2023, while tending her buffaloes, Ms. To Thi Hang (33 years old, from Cao Veu 3 village) was stung 13 times by wasps on her head and face. More dangerously, the wasps also stung important acupuncture points on her face, causing the venom to spread rapidly. Within minutes, Ms. Hang became dizzy and fainted. Neighbors discovered her and immediately called Dr. Luong.

He rushed to the scene of the accident, quickly applying ice packs to the victim's head to limit the spread of venom into the bloodstream; along with antivenom and necessary medical supplies. Thanks to timely intervention, Ms. Hang regained consciousness and recovered after 4 days.

And then there were countless other cases of work accidents in the forest, dog bites, food poisoning... that Dr. Luong helped with. He handled all the work alone, but he never refused a request for help from the people. Behind that calm demeanor was a warm heart, ready to brave the sun and rain to support the poor people in the border villages.

Strengthening the bond between the military and the people.

Upon hearing that we were visiting the "Borderland Medical Cabinet" model at the Phuc Son Border Guard Post, Mr. Dang Dinh Lam, head of Cao Veu 2 village, enthusiastically showed up. He said that he absolutely had to invite the doctor and everyone to his house for lunch that day to feel satisfied. Because, for him, Doctor Nguyen Ba Luong is like a family member, and therefore, the doctor's friends are cherished just as much.

Village head Dang Dinh Lam shared: "The Phuc Son Border Guard Post is located in Cao Veu 1 village, while the 'Borderland Medicine Cabinet' model is in Cao Veu 2 village. Over time, the villagers have become familiar with the image of military doctor Nguyen Ba Luong diligently visiting people's homes to examine them in urgent cases. Everyone knows the doctor's phone number by heart, so they can contact him promptly if needed."

Previously, when villagers fell ill, they would often treat themselves temporarily with herbs around their homes and in the forest, only going to the health station when the illness became unbearable. Now, however, the people know how to prevent disease, understand the value of Western medical treatment, and trust in the capabilities of the doctors in military uniforms.

Major Le Van Giang, Deputy Political Officer of Phuc Son Border Guard Station, shared with us that the Phuc Son Border Guard Station is stationed in Cao Veu 1 village, more than 20 km from the district center, managing 17 villages, including 4 Cao Veu villages bordering the border with over 1,000 inhabitants, the vast majority of whom are ethnic minorities facing difficult living conditions. Whenever they fall ill, the villagers face many difficulties in traveling and accessing medical care.

Recognizing the importance of the "Borderland Medicine Cabinet" model for the local people, the Party Committee and Command of the unit have consistently defined their roles and responsibilities in command and guidance. In addition to the equipment and medicines provided, the Command regularly pays attention to and proactively advises and mobilizes organizations, individuals, and philanthropists to share and support the provision of medicines to ensure the needs of the local people are met.

From 2019 to the present, the model has provided medical examinations and treatment to nearly 5,000 people, including dozens of emergency cases due to work accidents. At the same time, the station has coordinated and appealed to organizations, individuals, and philanthropists to donate medicines worth nearly 200 million VND.

Along with the model of a medical cabinet in Phuc Son commune, the Nghe An Border Guard has so far effectively deployed and maintained nearly 10 military-civilian medical clinics and border medicine cabinets. These quiet clinics on the border, with the image of dedicated military doctors, always serve as a solid support for the people in times of danger, strengthening the unwavering bond between the military and the people.