Vietnam has suffered severe Covid-19 pandemic since mid-July this year. Just in a month, the country has reported more than 250,000 cases
and more than 5000 deaths. The epicentre of disease is in the...
south of Vietnam and it is the Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon – Capital of south Vietnam).
It is estimated this city had more than 7000 cases daily and accounted for more than 90 percent of infection. The country south was locked down completely with night curfew amid confusion and anxiety. All business were shut; people were unemployed and trapped with hunger and despair.
The Vietnamese government was caught off guard due to relatively low Covid infection and death in the previous year. The health authority responded by converting army barracks, university halls, church halls, schools and unfinished buildings to field hospitals to care for the sick. However, all lack equipment, medical supplies and even personnel. However, there are not enough places for patients. The health system is on the brink of collapse. Many people died and were cremated. Their relatives were only informed later. The main crematorium operates 24 hours per day but still has many bodies. Many patients want to be admitted for treatment but no beds are available. The Vietnamese community in Australia deeply empathised with current situation and has raised funds to help those victims through AusViet Charity Foundations and RAWCS Project 55-2015-2016. This RAWCS Project is sponsored by Carlingford Rotary Club and for many years this project has provided medical and dental care for poor people in the remote, rural areas of Vietnam. More than $100,000 has been used to buy equipment and PPE supplies (N95 masks, gowns).
The Carlingford Rotary Club is actively involved with this project. An urgent meeting on 5/08/21 with many Rotarians explored the needs of Vietnam and ways to help. Many ideas have been recommended and to seek support for District 9685 and other Rotary Clubs and RAWCS. Up to this time, we have bought 35 IV perfusion pumps to supply for 3 Covid-specialised Hospitals in Saigon. We also bought 200,000 N95 masks for the frontline health workers in various areas.
One donor from California donated a full 40-foot container of N95 (400,000 masks) and 10,000 gowns. It will be shipped from Long Beach, California to Cat Lai Port, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
PDG Keith Roffey, Manager of Medishare, a unit of RAWCS, acquired 84 pallets of N95 masks (more than one million masks) that is fitted into two 40-foot containers.
All supplies will be sent to Vietnam to distributed for areas in need.
This is an example how Rotary works, especially the teamwork of members of Carlingford Rotary Club. The motto “Serve to Change Lives” is in action now. I hope that other Clubs, Districts, Regions and Rotary International will support our club to make a difference, to change lives.
Dr Phuoc Vo, OAM
Phone 0412 331 991
Email: drphuocvo@gmail.com
Phone 0412 331 991
Email: drphuocvo@gmail.com