Free masks handed out to combat swine flu

As the number of people suffering from swine flu rises in the country, nuns in central Vietnam are giving free masks to patients at their clinic as a way to check the epidemic.

A medical doctor gives a mask to a patient at the Kim Long Charity Clinic

The Vietnam Ministry of Health reported 35 new cases of the A(H1N1) virus on July 1, making it the largest number recorded on a single day. Popularly known as the swine flu, the first case in the country was reported on May 31.

State media report that the country now has 166 people who have tested positive for the disease.

To combat the epidemic, the Daughters of Our Lady of Immaculate nuns on June 30 offered masks free of charge to 200 patients who use the free health care they provide at their Kim Long Charity Clinic in the central city of Hue.

The nuns taught the patients how to use the masks and asked them to wear them in public places or when they meet people having the swine flu.

Sister Benedictine Nguyen Thi Dien, head of the clinic, said, “We wanted to do something useful to help prevent the spread of the epidemic among the local people.” She noted that on June 30 the city reported five cases of swine flu. Seven others are suspected of having the disease.

The nun, who is a medical doctor, and three other nuns work at the clinic. She said they hope to hand out a total of 5,000 masks free of charge to their patients. A U.S.-based charity sent them the masks, she added.

In the shops, these masks sell for 95,000 dong (US$5) each.

The 66-year-old nun said wearing masks also raises an awareness of the need to prevent the spread of swine flu among local people. People wearing masks will also avoid inhaling dust and cigarette smoke, and clearing their throat in public places, she added.

Patients wearing the masks that the Daughters of Our Lady of Immaculate nuns gave them on June 30

The clinic, which has a pool of 20 medical workers, provides free medical treatment for about 800-1,000 poor patients from the provinces of Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue three days a week.

Many patients told UCA News that they were grateful to the nuns for giving them the masks as they are poor.

In Hue city, many parishes also update people on swine flu developments by posting information on their notice boards.

Meanwhile, local media reported that government authorities have warned people against buying flu medicine without doctor´s prescriptions.