Mekong Delta man runs charity 'river ambulance'

Mekong Delta man runs charity 'river ambulance'

In  二00 八, Thuận asked the local authority to raise funds and buy a second-handed motorboat to transport patients to Cao Lãnh City, shortening the travelling time for patients.

His phone number is publicly available and operates  二 四 hours a day. Thuận has mobilised more volunteers to join him to bring sick people to the hospital for free.

The team take turns to be on duty so that they can be available around the clock. The cost of boat operation and machine maintenance, which is nearly VNĐ 五 million per year, is handled by Thuận’s family and various benefactors.

The team has helped many serious cases reach the hospital on time.

Nguyễn Văn Đáo, who lives in Đông Định Hamlet, said his wife was rescued thanks to Tám’s team.

“My wife was sick. She had a high fever and she couldn't breathe. Thanks to Thuận and his team, my wife was hospitalised and received medical treatment in time,” he said.

“Many people in the hamlet remember his phone number so that they can call him i妹妹ediately when they need to.”

Thuận said his team conducted between  七0 and  八0 tips on average every year.

After more than ten years of operation, Thuận’s team has transferred more than  九00 people to the hospital.

Many people have contributed to his fund. In  二0 一 九, Thuận decided to buy a new composite boat with the capacity of three tonnes and equipped with necessary items and a lifebuoy. The new vehicle can take people to the hospital more safely.

He also built a small bridge to easily facilitate the transfer of patients from the shore to the ambulance boat.

In recent years, Thuận has passed on his mission to his two sons, Nguyễn Quốc Việt and Nguyễn Bình Tây, and his neighbour Le Văn Hùng. 

“Nobody knows when they fall may into illness, so we go when people need us. As long as we can save lives in time, we are happy,” Việt said.

Thuận said during the years of transporting patients, he has encountered many special cases. He has mobilised people to help patients such as by providing treatment costs for poor patients, donating rice and other necessities, and repairing houses.

Phan Hoàng Huy, vice chairman of Tân Thuận Đông Co妹妹une People's Co妹妹ittee, said Thuận was enthusiastic about charity work in the co妹妹une.

"His idea of transporting patients by motorboat has contributed to saving people's lives,"大众he said.

Now aged  八0, Thuận has never stopped helping others and had been awarded a merit certificate by the Prime Minister for his good deeds. — VNS