Connecting kind hearts with poor patients

For over 10 years, the Social Work Office at Khanh Hoa General Hospital has achieved remarkable results, connecting kind hearts with poor patients.

Charity connection

In early March, thanks to the connection of the Social Work Office, a sponsor paid a visit and donated more than VND26 million to patients suffering from chronic kidney disease at Khanh Hoa General Hospital. Tran Thanh Tung, a 50-year-old patient in Ninh Ha Ward, Ninh Hoa Town said, “I have an end-stage renal disease, depending on kidney dialysis twice a week for 10 years now. I’m so grateful for the financial and mental assistance.”

Receiving equipment from sponsors.

Also in March, the Social Work Office received 2 high-frequency vibrators worth VND100 million donated by the Provincial Social Charity Committee of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and Thien Tam Nha Trang Volunteer Group to the Provincial General Hospital. The machine was brought to the Department of Emergency-Intensive Care to support the therapy for lung disease patients and increase the survival rate in mechanically ventilated patients.

Many poor patients also thanked the hospital staff and the Social Workers for gift vouchers worth VND1 million each for shopping at the Spring Fair in early February.

Under the guidance of the Board of Directors of the Hospital with financial support from sponsors inside and outside the province, the office jointly with the hospital organized "Free Spring Market" for more than 270 people and provided free transportation for 300 poor patients home to celebrate Tet with their families. This is one of the annual activities of the hospital to support poor patients.

Besides volunteering activities, for over 10 years of establishment, the Social Work Office has helped many patients find their families and many abandoned kids have warm homes.

Especially, in mid-2020, social workers helped a patient named Hoang The Tuan, 80, suffering from dementia to find his family in Nghe An after 12 years of losing contact. His relative, Pham Van Hoa, feeling touched said, "Tuan left home 12 years ago and we could not find him anywhere. Finding him in this situation is a miracle.”

Lots of practical assistance

Established at the end of 2013, the Social Work Office, Provincial General Hospital is the first unit of the Provincial Health sector to deploy social work activities in the hospital. Over the past 10 years, the office has connected poor patients with sponsors. Accordingly, the office has coordinated with departments of the Provincial General Hospital to connect organizations and individuals to donate nearly VND23 billion worth of hospital fees covering congenital heart surgery, coronary intervention, etc. for nearly 44,100 poor patients; offer more than 97,170 gifts worth more than VND9 billion in total to poor patients; give nearly VND370 million worth of hospital fees for 203 patients; fund transportation totaling more than VND570 million for 536 poor and ethnic minority patients discharged, transferred to high levels of care or brought home after death.

Social Work Office staff bring woolen hats donated by sponsors to Khanh Hoa General Hospital to give to patients.

In addition, the office has received medical equipment totaling nearly VND16 billion from organizations and individuals. Furthermore, the office has coordinated with sponsors and the Hospital Youth Union to provide nursing support for bedridden patients and elderly and homeless patients at the hospital. In addition, the office has also provided support connection for the charity kitchen at the hospital with 360 - 400 meals/day for poor patients.

Social workers are connecting medical staff and patients, helping share patients’ interests and expectations. For over 10 years, the Social Work Office has become a reliable platform where kind hearts meet, share and open to the less fortunate; and helped improve medical care and enhance patient trust and satisfaction during the treatment at the hospital, according to Second-degree Specialist Doctor Phan Huu Chinh, Director of Khanh Hoa Provincial Hospital.

C.D

Translated by N.T