Mai Anh Duc, in Da Nang City, holds bottles of antiseptic solution. VNA/VNS Photo

He said that after witnessing the efforts of the medical team of Hoa Vang Field Hospital and the whole country to repel the pandemic, he became determined to do his part.

Duc, residing in Hoa Cuong Nam Ward, Hai Chau District, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on August 5.

His son also tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.

He recalled being extremely worried he and his son were brought to Hoa Vang Field Hospital, however, he was soon reassured by the treatment he received from doctors and other medical workers.

Recalling his time in the hospital, Duc said: “What impressed me the most was the enthusiasm, thoughtfulness and responsibility of all the medical staff and doctors.”

“Although they were fully covered by protective suits and face masks, I remember voices of all doctors who came from all over the country: Hanoi’s Bach Mai Hospital, HCM City’s Cho Ray Hospital, and from Hai Phong northern city, and the central province of Binh Dinh.”

He was touched by their dedicated treatment day or night, and by how his daily meals were prepared meticulously.

In the quarantine area, he also exercised every day and instructed other patients to do so as well.

“People need to be calm and monitor information to fight the disease for themselves and their families. Look positively, do not listen to false rumours that affect the pandemic prevention fight of the city and the country,” he said.

“I believe that the country will overcome and succeed in this fight.”

After nine days of treatment at Hoa Vang Field Hospital, both Duc and his son tested negative four times for the SARS-CoV-2 virus and were discharged.

Providing free disinfectant solution

During his 14-day home quarantine, Duc outlined a plan called 'Project 687', his patient number, to produce and deliver disinfectant solution to health centres in Da Nang.

He contacted a friend living in HCM City who was a distributor of water steriliser PG3.0, made by Japan’s OSG Corporation.

Listening to Duc’s idea to help the community, his friend agreed to give him a PG3.0 disinfection solution generator (worth VND100 million, about US$4,200).

To produce a safe disinfectant solution, the machine uses single-cell electrolysis technology.

Tap water is treated before being put into electrolysis and chemical treatment. After passing through the device water at a pH of 3.0 - 6.5, is stable and has high antiseptic properties, but still ensures safety for hands.

“If we use too much 70 per cent alcohol solution to disinfect hands we can damage our skin, and the cost is quite expensive," he said, noting that his water-based solution was environmentally friendly, healthy and cheap.

"It has been certified by the HCM City’s Pasteur Institute with ability to kill 99 per cent of bacteria,” Duc said.

Using social media, he called for volunteers to participate in Project 687 by operating the production machines, bottling the solution and transporting it to health facilities.

Duc acts as a connector and remote operator. The machine can produce an average of five litres of antiseptic solution each minute. Volunteers pour the antiseptic water into two types of containers: a 20-litre plastic can and a 500ml handheld spray.

He has called on the community to donate money to buy bottles for his solution, while Duc pays for the chemicals to operate the machine.

After more than two weeks, Project 687 has produced more than 10,000 litres of the antiseptic solution to supply free to Hoa Vang Field Hospital, Da Nang Hospital, Hoa Cam Market, Non Nuoc Market and many locked-down residential areas.

“I will continue producing and providing disinfectant water for schools, hospitals and manufacturing facilities to ensure the safety for the community.”

Talking about Duc’s work, Nguyen Dai Vinh, Director of Hoa Vang District Health Centre, said: “We are very grateful for patient Mai Anh Duc's gratitude to the medical teams.”

“This noble gesture not only contributes to the hospitals' anti-pandemic work, and is also a spiritual encouragement for the doctors to continue treating COVID-19 patients, to soon repel the pandemic.” VNS

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