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From the letter of our beloved President Ho Chi Minh to all medical staff on February 27, 1955
“Treating patients and saving lives” is a noble mission, a heavy responsibility resting on the shoulders of medical professionals. On February 27, 1955, our beloved President Ho Chi Minh wrote a letter to the Conference of Medical Staff with precious teachings. He addressed the doctors and nurses with the affectionate pronouns “you” (các cô, các chú) and referred to himself as “Uncle” (Bác) in a very simple, warm, and loving way. In the letter, Uncle Ho advised medical staff to maintain three things: solidarity, compassion, and the will to build a strong national medical foundation.
The noble mission of “treating patients and saving lives” rests on the shoulders of doctors and nurses
Following Uncle Ho's teachings, solidarity among medical staff is essential and vital in any era. Solidarity helps build a sincere, equal relationship among those working in the medical field, from the Minister and Deputy Minister to doctors, pharmacists, and support staff; all work together for the ultimate common goal of “bringing life, joy, and hope to society”. “First of all, there must be solidarity!” - Uncle Ho emphasized in the letter.
After the advice on solidarity, in the letter, Uncle Ho mentioned the second important factor for those working in the medical field: compassion for patients. Patients entrust their very lives to doctors, so doctors must be dedicated and do their best to treat them. Patients should be treated like close relatives or siblings; rejoice when they recover and feel their pain when they suffer. Only then can one be true to the conscience and professional ethics of noble medical professionals. “A physician must be like a loving mother, that saying is very true!” - Uncle Ho wrote.
At the end of the letter, Uncle Ho mentioned the task of building a strong national medical system that can stand side by side with the world's major powers. Medical staff wishing to develop the national medical system need to base it on three principles: scientific, national, and public. It is necessary to preserve valuable experiences in healing with traditional Vietnamese medicine (Nam medicine) and Northern medicine (Bac medicine), and to focus on researching and combining Eastern and “Western” medicines to increase treatment effectiveness. Uncle Ho hoped that in the future, the national medical system would have many breakthroughs, escaping the constraints and shackles of the colonial slavery regime of many years to best serve the people.
February 27 – A day to honor those working in the medical field
Uncle Ho's letter was sent to medical staff on February 27, 1955. Therefore, the Party and the State decided to choose February 27th annually as the day to honor doctors, nurses, and those working in the medical field – “Vietnam Doctors” Day'.
A tribute to the tireless contributions of medical professionals over the past 64 years
On February 27, 2019, exactly 64 years after Uncle Ho sent his letter to medical staff, Vietnam's medical sector has made significant progress. Throughout all 64 provinces and cities of the country, there are medical facilities and hospitals serving the medical examination and treatment needs of the people. The qualifications of doctors and nurses are increasingly being improved; complex surgeries on the brain, heart, liver, lungs, kidneys... which seemed impossible to perform in a “developing” country like Vietnam, doctors have now been able to perform.
The smiles on patients“ lips and the tears of happiness when welcoming loved ones back are worthy rewards for the tireless efforts over the past 6 decades of all medical professionals in the country. Behind hospital doors, doctors have cried, laughed, experienced extreme joy, and felt absolute despair when they could not save a patient. They have achieved what Uncle Ho expected, which is to treat patients like their own flesh and blood, pouring all their heart and soul into healing and saving lives, worthy of the noble motto ”A physician is like a loving mother'.
Bao Minh Confectionery – Sweet words from the heart reaching the heart!
In our lives, there is no one who has not been sick and has not been cared for by dedicated doctors. Therefore, let us express our love and gratitude to these respectable “loving mothers” on Vietnam Doctors' Day, February 27. Small gifts like Bao Minh confectionery, which are not heavy on material value but carry profound spiritual value, spreading sweetness from heart to heart, are suitable for giving to doctors and nurses, in place of deep thanks from the bottom of each of our hearts.
