Ninh Bình health teams battle floods to protect public health

Medical staff at Gia Thủy Commune Health Station in Nho Quan District conducting health check-ups for patients. — VNA/VNS Photos

NINH BÌNH — As floodwaters surged into Nho Quan District following Typhoon Yagi, leaving homes submerged and roads impassable, a small group of healthcare workers stand between devastation and hope.

At the Thượng Hòa Commune health station, six dedicated staff members, doctors and medical personnel, have been working tirelessly to provide care, distribute medicine and control disease outbreaks in the aftermath of the floods.

More than 1,000 residents across five villages have been impacted, with water levels exceeding two metres in some areas.

With many homes flooded, the challenge of delivering medical care has been significant, yet these health workers have risen to the occasion, often going beyond the call of duty to ensure that help reaches those in need.

One of the health station’s most dramatic rescues took place on the night of September 10, when a call came in from a pregnant woman, Nguyễn Thị Mơ, who was trapped in her flooded home in Hữu Thường Village.

Mơ, 40, was at home alone when her waters broke.

With floodwaters isolating her house, she had no choice but to call the Thượng Hòa health station for help.

Đinh Thị Mây, head of the health station, immediately worked with local authorities to launch a rescue.

A boat was sent through the floodwaters, navigating submerged roads and relentless rain.

After a tense journey, Mơ was transferred from boat to motorbike to reach the health station, where she safely delivered a healthy baby within an hour.

Mơ’s home remained flooded, so she and her newborn were kept at the health station for safety.

The doctors provided her with kitchen supplies to prepare meals for her family and even gifted nappies and other essentials for the baby.

Just days after this successful delivery, the Thượng Hòa health station faced yet another emergency.

At 11pm on September 16, a patient suffering from heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease needed urgent care. Though it was outside her shift, Dr Mây again rushed to the patient’s home, wading through waist-deep floodwaters to provide life-saving care.

Her quick response stabilised the patient and once again demonstrated the extraordinary lengths the health staff were willing to go to, putting their own safety at risk to care for others.

A coordinated response

The storm and resulting floods affected more than 6,000 families across 86 villages, submerging nearly 3,700 homes.

In response, Nho Quan District health centre quickly mobilised its resources, instructing commune health station heads to monitor conditions and report updates regularly.

Health stations have been providing round-the-clock emergency care, with two staff members on duty at all times, ready to receive and treat patients.

Village health workers have been dispatched to distribute medicines and chemicals, ensuring that clean water supplies are protected.

Local healthcare workers educate residents on environmental sanitation in flood-affected Gia Thủy Commune, Nho Quan District.

Environmental sanitation efforts have intensified as floodwaters recede, with stations ensuring proper treatment of drinking water and promoting hygiene measures to prevent disease outbreaks. The district health centre, working closely with local authorities, has maintained a steady supply of essential medicines, chemicals and equipment to flood-prone areas.

Nguyễn Thị Thanh Thảo, deputy director of the Nho Quan District health centre, praised the dedication of doctors and medical staff, who continued to work under dangerous conditions.

By September 20, the health stations at Thượng Hòa and Đức Long communes had safely delivered two babies and treated numerous patients isolated by the floods.

Recognising the gravity of the situation, the provincial Department of Health activated external emergency response teams to assist flood-hit areas.

Following a meeting on September 12, the department deployed 28 staff members from the provincial General Hospital, forming 13 teams, with twelve dispatched to affected communes and one stationed at Nho Quan District General Hospital.

In addition, the provincial Obstetrics and Paediatrics Hospital sent four teams, three to Gia Viễn District and one to Nho Quan. Each team was fully equipped with emergency medicines, oxygen tanks, and life-saving equipment.

Dr Trương Công Thành, head of the Emergency Department at the Obstetrics and Paediatrics Hospital, stressed that the external emergency teams were always ready to respond.

“We have prepared all essential medical supplies to ensure we can provide immediate assistance,” he told Việt Nam News Agency.

In addition to healthcare services, ensuring food safety has become a critical priority.

Many organisations and individuals have provided essential food and supplies to the affected areas, but distributing these items has been hampered by impassable roads and adverse weather conditions.

The Ninh Bình health sector, in collaboration with local authorities, implemented strict measures to ensure food safety during distribution.

They have also organised teams to inspect the quality of donated food, ensure swift distribution, and maintain public health messaging about safe food practices in flood conditions. Contingency plans for medical supplies, chemicals, and manpower have been put in place to address potential foodborne illnesses or related diseases.

As the floodwaters recede, the focus has shifted to preventing post-flood health issues.

Local health units have been actively involved in environmental clean-up efforts, advising residents on waste management, water treatment, and personal hygiene to prevent diseases such as diarrhoea and skin infections.

Dr Nguyễn Mai Thanh, head of the Infectious Disease Prevention Department at the Ninh Bình Provincial Centre for Disease Control, reported that teams have been dispatched to the most vulnerable areas. Chemicals has been distributed to disinfect water supplies.

Amid the ongoing crisis, the healthcare workers of Ninh Bình have become beacons of hope for their community.

Their courage, dedication and compassion have ensured that vital medical services have continued despite the challenging conditions.

Whether braving floodwaters to reach patients, delivering babies, or distributing medicine, these healthcare heroes have put their community first. — VNS