In 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic is causing serious impacts on all countries around the world, Vietnam’s patriotic emulation movements on COVID-19 prevention and control have proved effective, contributing to putting the pandemic under control.

Disinfecting streets in Quang Nam's Hoi An ancient city

With the spirit of “fighting disease like fighting the enemy,” the whole Party, people and army have united and strived to overcome difficulties and challenges towards a common goal of defeating the pandemic.

The Government and the Prime Minister directed the health, military and public security forces to stand firm on the front line and carry out disease prevention and control measures drastically and synchronously.

With its leading role, the Health Ministry launched a special emulation movement named “Health sector joins hands to fight COVID-19,” urging its staff to uphold patriotism and determination to win over the pandemic.

Together with medical workers, soldiers have worked hard to stop the disease from entering the country from outside, especially through airports, border gates, and border trails.

In July when the pandemic broke out in Da Nang city, nearly 15,000 “community-based COVID-19 response teams” were set up in Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Quang Tri, helping supervise and disseminate measures on disease prevention and control to each household.

The “community-based COVID-19 response teams” model is a unique initiative of Vietnam, which is a vivid example of the country’s policy on people-based COVID-19 fight, said deputy head of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology Tran Nhu Duong.

The mass media have also stepped up communications by providing public, accurate and timely information so as to create social consensus and improve public awareness of disease prevention and control.

Following Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong’s appeal in March and the Government’s directions, ministries, sectors, localities and people nationwide have promoted emulation movements, and joined hands in the combat against the pandemic. Many Vietnamese people living abroad and foreigners living in Vietnam have also joined the fight.

The “all people support the fight against COVID-19” movement has mobilized a total of VND2.1 trillion (US$91 million) in cash and kinds.

Thanks to high social consensus, Vietnam is among a few countries putting the pandemic under control with effective and low-cost methods.

Vietnam’s success in this fight has also received big praises from the international community.