Nghe An Department of Health receives First-Class Labor Medal

(Baonghean.vn) -On the afternoon of February 26th, the Department of Health solemnly organized a ceremony to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Vietnamese Doctors' Day (February 27th, 1955 – February 27th, 2015) and to receive the First-Class Labor Medal.

Also attending were comrades: Ho Duc Phoc - Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Le Ba Hung - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial Propaganda Department; Dinh Thi Le Thanh - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Dinh Viet Hong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, representatives of departments and agencies, and a large number of outstanding doctors and medical professionals from various periods.

A panoramic view of the ceremony.

Comrade Dinh Thi Le Thanh delivered a speech at the commemoration ceremony.

Sixty years ago, on February 27, 1955, at the National Health Conference, President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter of congratulations, greetings, and encouragement to the medical staff. Following his teachings, along with the rest of the country, thousands of medical personnel from our province went to the front lines to ensure good care for wounded and sick soldiers and to prevent and control epidemics. In the rear, the medical staff also worked alongside the people to care for the health of the people, enabling them to produce food and supplies for the front lines. During those arduous and fierce years, countless exemplary doctors and medical personnel – loyal and courageous soldiers – emerged on battlefields and in every locality of our province.

On behalf of the authorized representative, Comrade Dinh Thi Le Thanh presented the First Class Labor Medal to the Nghe An Department of Health.

Continuing that fine tradition, the health sector in Nghe An province has made remarkable progress in recent years. From having just over fifty healthcare workers in the entire province, there are now over 15,000 healthcare staff (including village and commune health workers); from a situation where healthcare was primarily community-based, it has now developed into specialized healthcare, applying many new techniques to serve patients. The healthcare system from the provincial level down to the commune, ward, village, and hamlet levels has been strengthened and is becoming increasingly complete. The network of medical examination, treatment, and rehabilitation has developed rapidly towards specialized techniques; and the drug distribution network has expanded widely. Several goals for building a high-tech center in the North Central region have been achieved in Vinh City, such as: Vinh Medical University; the completion and commissioning of the new Provincial Friendship General Hospital; the establishment of Endocrinology, Oncology, Obstetrics and Pediatrics, Trauma-Orthopedics, and Ophthalmology Hospitals; and several other centers with inpatient beds (Forensic Psychiatry and Examination Center, Hematology-Blood Transfusion Center).

The quantity and quality of healthcare human resources have improved significantly, especially at the provincial level. Disease prevention and control efforts have been proactive. Many dangerous diseases have been controlled and eradicated, such as malaria and cholera. In recent years, dangerous diseases such as HIV/AIDS, SARS, and avian influenza (H5N1, H1N1, H7N9) have been controlled. Basic health programs have met and exceeded their targets. By the end of 2014, the number of communes meeting the National Criteria for Health reached 63.5% (exceeding the target by 8.5%).

Comrade Dinh Thi Le Thanh presents the Third-Class Labor Medal to Comrade Nguyen Hong Tan.

Presenting Certificates of Commendation from the Prime Minister to outstanding individuals.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Dinh Thi Le Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, affirmed that the achievements were thanks to the collective efforts and solidarity of all staff in the provincial health sector. Looking ahead, she hoped the sector would focus on several key tasks: actively and proactively monitoring and preventing epidemics, combating HIV/AIDS, and mitigating natural disasters; effectively implementing population policies/family planning, especially in mountainous, highland, coastal, and Catholic areas; improving the quality of medical examination and treatment, and reducing hospital overcrowding; training and developing medical human resources, attracting highly qualified medical staff while simultaneously selecting and developing new techniques appropriate to the technical classification; and attracting medical staff to all levels to meet the healthcare needs of the people. She also emphasized the importance of effectively implementing grassroots democracy regulations. Strengthen information and communication work, health education, and highlight good examples, good deeds, and exemplary medical ethics within the healthcare sector.

On this occasion, the President awarded the Nghe An Department of Health the First-Class Labor Medal, and the Third-Class Labor Medal to Comrade Nguyen Hong Tan, Head of the Planning and Synthesis Department of the Department of Health. The Prime Minister awarded Certificates of Merit to 5 individuals for their positive contributions to the healthcare sector.

Text and photos:My Ha