The happiness of a female doctor in the highlands

Joy from…cries

Having a natural talent for B-group subjects, Nguyen Thi Khuyen decided to pursue a career as a doctor while still in school. However, it was only after her practical experiences at medical school that she knew exactly what she wanted to do: an obstetrician. She confided: “I absolutely love the feeling of bringing a child into the world, holding them in my arms and handing them over to their mother. That joy is special and hard to describe. Until now, after many years of working, it is still intact.”

Ms. Khuyen (far right) has always been one of the typical faces of Quy Chau District Medical Center. Photo: CSCC

It is the special feelings for children that motivate Ms. Khuyen to strive to conquer higher goals in her career choice. After the first year of studying at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Nghe An Medical College, Ms. Khuyen retook the exam and passed the entrance exam to Thai Nguyen Medical University. After graduating from university, Ms. Khuyen was accepted to work at Quy Chau District Medical Center. Working, studying, and taking care of her family, the following years on her career journey required a lot of sacrifice and effort.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Khuyen. Photo: CSCC.

Talking about the days of higher education, Ms. Khuyen still could not hold back her emotions: “In 2013, when my child was 18 months old, I took both my child and mother to Hue to pursue the preliminary obstetrics program at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy. In 2014, when my child was over 2 years old, I left home to study Obstetrics and Gynecology at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy again. During those 2 years of study, I had to leave my child at home for my husband to take care of…” Saying that, Ms. Khuyen choked up. She has never forgotten the days of missing her child, the times she got on the bus to return to school but never dared to look back at her husband and children even once. As a person who loves children, more than anyone, she understands the disadvantages of her children when they have to live away from their mother for a long time during their childhood. Even now, when Ms. Khuyen no longer has to study far from home, her two children still have to get used to being independent because their mother often has to stay on duty at night or go on business trips to the facility for many days.

Specializing in cesarean sections, Ms. Khuyen confided: “The most worrying are difficult surgeries such as fetal distress or ruptured old surgical incisions. Many years ago, when performing an emergency surgery for such a case, our entire surgical team was heartbroken because the fetus entered the mother’s abdomen and could not be saved. For those of us in the profession, welcoming a child into the world in silence, without hearing the newborn cry, is a heavy and haunting feeling.”

Ms. Khuyen (far right) participated as a judge for the competition for excellent nurses and midwives. Photo: CSCC

As a good doctor,many achievements, but Ms. Khuyen's colleagues still joke with each other, Ms. Khuyen will never be rich. With 80% of the patients being ethnic minorities, Ms. Khuyen has often felt heartbroken when witnessing the pitiful, dire circumstances of the patients. Because of poverty, long distances, and limited knowledge, many patients come to the hospital when their health is critical, both mother and child are in dangerous situations. Not willing to stand by and watch, Ms. Khuyen always proactively offers to help at all costs to save the patient's life, sometimes using her own money to pay for the car to take the patient to a higher-level hospital, sometimes buying porridge, buying medicine for poor patients, sometimes mobilizing colleagues and other patients to donate money to help... She has never thought of getting rich from her job, she just hopes that each day will pass peacefully because she can help or save someone's life.

Happiness has many roles

From choosing a career and making sacrifices to pursue her passion, Ms. Khuyen has received happiness that only people in the profession can have. That is the joy of saving a baby's life, the sincere thanks of the locals, the gifts from the fields and fields of the people... "Many times I did not understand the ethnic language of the locals, did not know what they said to me and about me. But through the tight handshakes, affectionate smiles and sincere hugs, I understood that they were happy. That was enough to make me happy" - Ms. Khuyen confided.

Not satisfied with what she has achieved, Ms. Khuyen "made it difficult" for herself with research topics that took years to complete. She shared: "Usually, I will choose the topic at the beginning of the year and divide the categories to gradually implement throughout that year. I am currently doing the topic "Research on the current status of attitudes and practices on breastfeeding of obstetric patients". In fact, during my work, I witnessed many ethnic minorities who do not have the correct awareness of the importance of breast milk. In many places, people still maintain the old custom of chewing rice or rice to feed newborns, which is both a waste of the mother's colostrum and not good for the child's health. The process of examining patients is also when I go to survey, collect data and at the same time guide and disseminate knowledge to patients about caring for and breastfeeding their children. The first result of these studies is that people's awareness is raised and the child's health is improved."

Ms. Khuyen won first prize in the Doctor's Professional Knowledge Survey contest organized by Quy Chau District Medical Center. Photo: CSCC

In addition to her professional work as Head of the Department of Reproductive Health Care, Ms. Khuyen also takes on many different roles in the agency such as Deputy Secretary of the Party Cell, Member of the Party Committee.Union Executive Committee, member of the Executive Committee of the Women's Union. When asked about her secret to balancing time and work for all roles, she said: "There will be times when I accept that I have to sacrifice some of these roles to prioritize others. However, when I do something, I need to focus completely on that job. In addition, I feel lucky to have the companionship, encouragement, and support of colleagues, family and everyone around me. That is both happiness and motivation for me to strive every day."

“Among the important companions in my life, my husband is the one who sympathizes and shares with me the most. My paternal and maternal grandparents both live far away and cannot support me. He himself has to travel 20km to school every day, but he is always the one who proactively offers to take on the housework, take care of the children and encourage his wife to study more. Behind my small achievements, there is always his silent sacrifice, I am grateful to him for that” - Ms. Khuyen emotionally expressed.

The small family of Ms. Nguyen Thi Khuyen. Photo: NVCC

Having been attached to the Quy Chau District Medical Center since graduating, Ms. Khuyen has always been proud of the "common home" - where she can devote herself. Sharing about union activities, especially women's work at the Quy Chau District Medical Center, Ms. Luong Thi Phuong Anh - President of the Quy Chau District Labor Federation said: "Although it is a specialized unit with many professional tasks and limited working hours, the District Medical Center is always at the forefront of movement activities. In order not to affect work, union activities often have to be organized outside of office hours or on holidays and are enthusiastically participated by union members. In addition, one of the notable points of this unit is the spirit of solidarity and mutual love of everyone. Such an environment will be a "nursery" for many other "Ms. Khuyen"".