Le Van Thinh Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City is summoning the help of 100 volunteers who have recovered from COVID-19 to fill in vacancies at high risk of exposure to the coronavirus, such as drivers, logistics workers, doctors, and nurses who take care of patients in treatment. 

The call for volunteers, which seeks 25 doctors and nurses, 50 caretakers, two drivers, as well as other relevant positions, was confirmed by Tran Van Khanh, director of the hospital.

The volunteers must be those having recuperated from COVID-19, and will work at makeshift COVID-19 treatment facilities managed by Le Van Thinh Hospital, the director added.

Those who beat COVID-19 infections can provide first-hand experience in overcoming the disease, as well as insights on mental conditions in treatment, which would come as great help for patients during their own combats against the virus, Dr. Khanh said. 

Recovered cases will serve as a leading light for patients, giving them hope and inspiration to fight off the virus, he added.

Since the epidemic started to exacerbate in Ho Chi Minh City in May, local hospitals have received support from recovered COVID-19 patients, who volunteered to work on the front line to share the burden with practitioners.

However, several hospitals have to turn them down as they do not have the budget to pay the volunteers.

In the short term, Le Van Thinh Hospital will search for candidates among the recovered patients of Makeshift Hospital No. 3 in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Each participant will commit to eight hours of work per day at the hospital for at least one week.

Their lodging and food will all be prepared by the hospital. 

On top of the government-prescribed pay scale, each volunteer will earn VND2 million (US$88) in remuneration paid by the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs' Association.

Ho Chi Minh City is currently the gravest coronavirus outbreak site in Vietnam, recording over 221,000 cases since the fourth wave emerged in the Southeast Asian country on April 27.

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