Dr Ngo Thi Anh Dong gives advice to the wife of a man diagnosed with HIV. (Photo: VNA)HCM City (VNA) – Dr Ngo Thi Anh Dong is so devoted to her job and patients, and sowell-loved, that when she’s absent from the health clinic on any given day,people tend to panic.
Where is she?, the patients ask. They even call her up to ask if anything iswrong.
“It shows that I’m lodged deep in their heart,” the 62-year-old said.
Since 2005, Dr Dong hasbeen working at an outpatient clinic for HIV patients at the Binh ThanhDistrict Preventive Health Centre.
The clinic provides counselling, antiretroviral (ARV) therapy andcommunity-based support to 1,800 people with HIV.
“I’ll work until my health will no longer allow me,” Dong said. “I don’t darequit because I’m not sure if my replacement would be as devoted as I am."
In 1999, Dong beganworking as an obstetrician at the Preventive Health Centre in District 4, andwas hired in 2001 as the only doctor at the centre’s outpatient clinic.
Since that time, she hasmostly treated people with HIV.
“I’ve wanted to quitmany times, but I haven’t," Dong said. "When we show patients love,they treat us kindly. I’ve never been badly treated by patients.".
She recalled that, oneday after a heavy rain, Xom Chieu street where the clinic is located wasflooded. She should have stayed at home, but after several patientsphoned her, Dong left to visit them.
“If I hadn’t gone, whatwould have happened to them? At that time, they needed me,” Dong said, addingthat patients also need “warm arms and love” from health officials and thecommunity.
Many people in thecommunity, however, are not sympathetic to HIV patients and, unfortunately,display discriminatory attitudes toward them, she said.
Dong is determined totreat the patients with respect so they can become confident and integrate intosociety.
One patient said thatwhen he learned of his HIV status he was “shocked and depressed”.
But Dr Dong showed himrespect and helped him get a job as a peer educator for HIV patients.
He in his job speakswith people and encourages them to take a HIV test, and if the results arepositive, asks them to agree to receive ARV therapy.
“If I hadn’t met DrDong,I wouldn’t be healthy and have such a stable job,” he said.
The wife of a man withHIV spoke about Dong’s dedication. "She called my husband when sherealised that he was not taking his medicine on schedule."
Nguyen Thi Huong, theclinic’s new doctor, said: “Dong shows enthusiasm when she works with me. Sheteaches me everything, including how to communicate with people with HIV andthe best medical treatments.”
Dong knows the livingcircumstance of each person with HIV treated at the clinic, Huong said, addingthat Dong also helps them try to overcome their personal difficulties.
Late last month, Dongwas one of 113 people honoured by the HCM City People’s Committee and VietnamFatherland Front for their contributions to a civilised society and to thepromotion of a good quality of life.
Nguyen Thanh Phong, Chairmanof the city People’s Committee, who spoke at the ceremony, said: “Their silentand noble contributions need to be honoured because they are done from theirheart. These people are the seeds that cultivate goodness in life.”
Vietnam’s Vice PresidentDang Thi Ngoc Thinh, speaking at the ceremony, called the recipients“commendable models who’ve advocated humanitarian activities which havecontributed to a kinder and better society.”-VNA
VNA
