(VOVWORLD) - Over the past 3 months, the ambulance operated by Do Quoc Minh Trieu and his friends in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, has provided free service to patients in financial difficulty. This has inspired other volunteers in the community.
 Do Quoc Minh Trieu's charity ambulance. (Photo: VOV) |
35-year-old Do Quoc Minh Trieu of Lien Nghia town and several of his friends raised more than 26,000 USD to buy an ambulance to carry disadvantaged patients.
Nguyen Thi Su of Lam Ha district, who has liver cancer, says she used to hire a vehicle to travel 300km to HCMC for treatment. Trieu’s charity ambulance now takes her there for free.
“I’d like to thank the group for their benevolence. Their ambulance service helps poor patients like me cope with life’s difficulties,” said Su.
Nguyen Dac Loc of Thach My town said he’s grateful to the group for taking members of his family to the hospital one night after an accident, adding, “What they are doing is meaningful. They help people like us who have no other recourse.”
 A patient is supported by Trieu’s charitable group to go to hospital. (Photo: VOV) |
Do Quoc Minh Trieu recalls cases where patients died because they didn’t have enough money to get to the hospital in time. Since last October, the group has provided about 40 free trips to the hospital.
“Our goal is to help poor patients. We have a donation box in the ambulance. How much they put in it is up to them. We don’t have a fixed price and also carry patients who aren’t poor. But those in financial difficulty, we’re happy to help for free,” said Trieu.
Most of Trieu’s co-workers were born in the 1980s. They work in different fields, but all live in Liên Nghĩa town and share a desire to do charitable activities.
Driver Nguyen Minh Hieu said, “I used to be an ambulance driver for Duc Trong district’s General Hospital and saw too many poor people who had to borrow money at high interest to pay for a car and medical treatment.”
Hieu said he was happy to help them and just hope they don't need him again.
“I’m ready to take them to the hospital whenever they call - even at night. In some cases they die. If the family doesn’t have enough money to buy a coffin, we call for donations,” said Hieu.
As word about the charity ambulance service has spread on social networks, more and more poor patients have called for help.