Vietnam cares for the elderly during pandemic
(VOVWORLD) - Elderly people are at high risk of COVID-19 infection and are more likely to become seriously ill or even die if they are infected. The Vietnamese government has paid special attention to protecting the elderly during this pandemic.
 (photo: VNA) |
Vietnam has more than 11 million elderly people, and most have chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, or coronary artery disease. Disease prevention and health care for the elderly are of vital importance. Hospitals and medical clinics have been careful about medical screening, vaccination, and treatment of elderly patients. Binh Thanh hospital in Ho Chi Minh City is in charge of vaccinating elderly people with underlying conditions. It vaccinates more than 800 elderly people each day.
Doctor Tran Trung De, the hospital’s Director, said, 'Elderly people often have underlying diseases, particularly high blood pressure. They are closely monitored before after their vaccination. We have vaccinated the elderly at various sites.'
Ha Minh Thong, an elderly resident of Binh Thanh district, HCM City, said, 'There’s a separate vaccination site for the elderly. This shows the government’s special care for us in the pandemic. Everyone wants to be vaccinated. We receive a thorough screening before we’re vaccinated.'
The Central Committee of the Vietnam Elderly Association has implemented several programs to help the elderly during the pandemic. It has set up funds to care for the elderly nationwide and nearly 3,000 clubs where the elderly can find mutual support.