Early Springtime for the elderly.
Spring seems to have come early for the elderly who have been offered free health checks at Vinmec. So far approximately 400 of the 3,000 on the list have had blood tests, biochemical tests and diagnosis imaging to check their health and screen for common diseases. Diseases such as hyperlipidema, diabetes and gout will be carefully tested for in the hope of early detection.
The willingness and curiosity felt by patients is clear to see at the opportunity to have a free health check at a hospital described as “clean and beautiful beyond belief”. Most of them had never had a health check using such high-tech equipment before. What impressed them most however were the “amazingly” clean and beautiful facilities, along with the kind and considerate care of doctors and staff, who were “as kind as mothers”.
“ I’m extremely grateful to the Thien Tam Fund and the city’s elderly community for their kindness in giving us the chance to have such a thorough health check at the hospital. Previously, I had only ever been to hospital if I was seriously ill; headaches and normal ‘flu were treated at home or by going to the pharmacy. I could not afford regular health checks for financial reasons and I do not want to be a burden on my children. I had no idea what diseases I might have. Vinmec offered me the precious chance to be checked over and advised me on how to take care of my health in order to live longer ”, said Vu Ngoc Thanh, 73 years old (from Tran Khat Chan, Thanh Nhan, Hanoi)
“No fear of going to hospital”
“I was always afraid of going to hospital, but now that’s in the past because Vinmec hospital is so nice, and doctors are so kind and friendly”, said seven year old Trinh Yen Nhi enthusiastically – a pupil of class 1A1 at Thanh Xuan Trung primary school. Nhi is one of the pupils who received a free health check at Vinmec hospital. Nhi is among many pupils who were happy to go to Vinmec. They played around, glancing at everything with curiosity and discovering every corner of the hospital.
Seeing the pupils talking about their experiences at the hospital, Ms Bui Thi My, the head teacher of class 1A1 at Thanh Xuan Trung primary school said: “The nurses are very enthusiastic. This place doesn’t feel like a hospital – pupils see it as a being recreational place as comfortable as their homes”
In fact, “no fear of going to hospital” is common among patients of Vinmec. It’s a precious chance for recipients of charity health checks, who cannot afford to high-tech healthcare, to be able to be screened for possible health risks.
The warm smiles of the elderly and the joviality of pupils are satisfaction enough for Vingroup staff. They feel proud to be contributing towards patient’s happiness.
In November, 2011, Thien Tam Fund donated 50 billion VND to carry out a free health check program at Vinmec International Hospital The program is aimed at providing healthcare to poor and underprivileged children, the elderly, families of war martyrs, veterans, ex-soldiers, youth volunteers and those who contributed to the revolution.
The charitable health check program is divided into two phases taking place from January to September 2012: free health checks and surgeries primary school pupils and the elderly. The Fund has already agreed to fund another program: “Genital defects surgery for unlucky children” proposed by the Asian Injury Foundation.
