Vietnamese “Blue Beret” Doctors in South Sudan Tend to UN Officer

Vietnamese peacekeepers in South Sudan successfully give first aid to stroke patient who is a UN officer
April 13, 2022 | 15:13

Vietnamese peacekeepers of Level 2 Field Hospital No. 3 in South Sudan have delivered medical care to save a 50-year-old officer from a stroke on April 11, reported VNA Tuesday.

At the scene (Photo: Vietnam's Level 2 Field Hospital No. 3
At the scene. Photo: Vietnam's Level 2 Field Hospital No. 3

His colleagues took the South Sudanese patient to the field hospital at 10 am on April 11 when the right side of his body could not move. He was still awake and able to answer calls. His blood pressure increased to very high levels.

One hour before admission, the patient suddenly became weak and had decreased sensation on the right side of the body.

Photo: Vietnam's Level 2 Field Hospital No. 3
Photo: Vietnam's Level 2 Field Hospital No. 3

Dr Dang Long Trieu, head of the medical examination department, and the hospital's deputy director Tran Dang Khoa handled the patient, controlled their blood pressure and performed tests.

In the first hour, the patient was preliminarily diagnosed with a left hemisphere stroke and suspected cerebral hemorrhage. He also had complications of increased intracranial pressure.

Although he had had a five-year history of hypertension, he had received no treatment.

This is the 3rd stroke case treated during the tenure of more than 12 months at Vietnam's 3rd level 2 field hospital in South Sudan.
This is the third stroke case treated during the tenure of more than 12 months at Vietnam's Level 2 Field Hospital No. 3 in South Sudan. Photo: Vietnam's Level 2 Field Hospital No. 3

With the equipment of a Level 2 field hospital, Dr Hoang Xuan Truong conducted an ultrasound scan to assess the diameter of the patient’s posterior optic nerve sheath to support a clearer diagnosis.

Results showed a marked increase in intracranial pressure, predicting brain compression. The patient was immediately given the standard protocol for cerebral stroke.

The hospital’s deputy director Tran Dang Khoa reported the case to the Chief of Health of the mission. The patient was urgently transferred to a Level-3 field hospital to have early access to specialised treatment.

Three health workers of the field hospital successfully accompanied the patient to the Level-3 Field Hospital in Uganda’s Kampala City.

Coordination between the departments and teams in the field hospitals had contributed significantly to creating the hospital's prestige and trust of patients, Khoa said, adding that they were determined to complete the United Nations peacekeeping mission.

The specialized departments in the field hospital level 2 Vietnam No. 3 in South Sudan have coordinated smoothly, contributing to the successful treatment of patients.
The AMET Airborne Emergency Team of Vietnam's Level 2 Field Hospital No. 3 in South Sudan led by Doctor Dinh Van Hong and 2 nurses in charge of safely transported and handed over the patient to a Level 3 field hospital in the Uganda's capital city Kampala. Photo: Vietnam's Level 2 Field Hospital No. 3

It was the third stroke that the neurologist from the field hospital has diagnosed and managed successfully in the past 12 months.

It was also the second time that peacekeeping health workers at the field hospital effectively used ultrasound to assess the increased intracranial pressure and support the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of acute cerebral stroke as they lack medical equipment like CT scanners or MRIs.

Vietnam has sent personnel to the UN peacekeeping forces since 2014 and continually made active contributions in this regard. It deployed a Level-2 field hospital to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for the first time in October 2018. So far, it has sent 75 officers, including 16 females, to the peacekeeping force, ranking 62nd among the UN member states.

Vietnamese peacekeepers are performing duties at the UN missions in South Sudan and the Central African Republic. The country has also pledged to soon deploy personnel to the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei, a disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan.

Vietnam’s Level-2 field hospital in South Sudan has played an important role in the common success of UNMISS, said UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix.

It has not only helped ensure health and medical conditions for UN peacekeepers, especially amid the Covid-19 pandemic, but also organised workshops to improve the awareness of major issues such as Covid-19, HIV/AIDS, and gender-based violence.

He also spoke highly of the Vietnamese officers’ professionalism, dedication, efforts, and sacrifice while performing duties in difficult environments.

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Hannah Nguyen
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