Vietnamese Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien sent a letter of compliment after hearing a group of medical workers of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital in Ha Noi to be devoted to save a HIV pregnant woman.

The HIV-carrying patient has recovered after the surgery.

Eighteen medics, including 18 doctors and nurses, were confirmed in risk of exposing to HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) after they performed an emergency surgery on the patient last Saturday

In her letter, Ms. Tien said that she applauded and thanked 18 medical workers of the hospital who were trying to save the HIV pregnant woman though they are in risk of exposing to HIV virus.

Ms. Tien also proposed the Hanoi Department of Health and the Hospital to give these medical workers drug to reduce the risk of contracting the disease.

During treating patients, medical workers have faced risks of exposure to dangerous diseases, some of them contracted diseases from patients, she wrote.

The act of the group of medical workers in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital is a sample of devoting spirit to people's healthcare

Before the minister's letter the director of the Department of Health in Hanoi also granted certificates of merit to these medical workers.

Last week the patient was transferred from the Northern Province of Quang Ninh to the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital in an unconscious state and was bleeding from her vagina.

The doctors decided to remove her womb, which had necrotised, or suffered cell death, to save her. In their rush to operate on her, the medics did not put on protective gear, including special clothes and eyewear. Her family had not revealed before the operation that she was HIV-positive.

After the operation they come to know that she was carrying HIV through her blood tests.

SGGP