TP - 687 is the name of a project that provides free antiseptic water to hospitals, quarantine areas... in Da Nang to prevent COVID - 19 epidemic. The number 687 is not inherently special, but to people Project initiator - Mr. Mai Anh Duc (born 1982, Hai Chau district, Da Nang) - that is the number associated with him during the days of being treated for COVID - 19 at Hoa Vang Field Hospital.

Cherished by patient 687

“I will continue to join hands with everyone and the city to fight to the end in the fight against the COVID – 19 pandemic” – that is shared by Mr. Mai Anh Duc – who is only known to many people through the name “Patient 687”- when discharged after 10 days of being treated for COVID – 19 at Hoa Vang Field Hospital.

Having said that, despite continuing to self-isolate for an additional 14 days according to regulations, Mr. Duc still along with some friends and relatives planned and implemented Project 687 to provide free antiseptic water to patients. Hospitals, quarantine areas... in Da Nang area.

Patient 687 Mai Anh Duc (3rd from the right) was discharged from the hospital on August 14. Photo: NVCC

“As soon as the epidemic returned and Da Nang became the epicenter of the epidemic, I cherished to carry out this project. I am a business in imported water filtration equipment, so I learned about a Japanese equipment that creates standard antiseptic water from water and additives. I contacted the distribution unit to receive support for this equipment to produce free antiseptic water to supply to frontline units fighting the epidemic," Mr. Duc said.

When everything was well planned and ready to operate, Mr. Duc received the bad news that his son also had COVID – 19. Immediately, his house was locked down, the whole family, both sides of the family. , company employees and close contacts... must all go into quarantine. "The day my house was blocked was the day the shipping unit delivered the device. They couldn't deliver the goods to me, and I couldn't ask my relatives to pick them up, so the device was shipped back to Ho Chi Minh City," Mr. Duc said.

After the first days of confusion, he calmed down and decided to continue working on his project. “In the quarantine area and in the hospital, the hardships of the doctors and nurses urged me to do something to help the city fight the epidemic. I called my friend - an equipment distributor - and asked him for support, transferring the device back with the thought: as soon as my illness is over, I will continue the project," Mr. Duc shared.

Mr. Mai Anh Duc during COVID - 19 treatment at Hoa Vang Field Hospital Photo: NVCC

During the days of treatment at Hoa Vang Field Hospital, Mr. Duc observed that antiseptic alcohol was used a lot, from disinfecting hands for patients and doctors to cleaning beds, cabinets, and glass doors every day... Doctors use antiseptic alcohol to wrinkle and dry hands. “The antiseptic solution I intend to provide to hospitals and quarantine areas is environmentally friendly, does not affect health, and has been certified by Ho Chi Minh City's Pauster Institute to have the ability to kill bacteria up to 99%. Therefore, I waited even longer until I was cured to start the project," Mr. Duc said.

Grateful to Da Nang

After being discharged from the hospital, in addition to the COVID - 19 treatment diaries that are regularly updated on his personal Facebook, Mr. Duc shares his thoughts about Project 687 and calls for support from relatives and friends. “This is a gift of gratitude that I want to send to the medical team, doctors and epidemic prevention forces who have treated and supported my whole family; It's also a small contribution to join hands with the city to prevent the COVID-19 epidemic," Mr. Duc said.

Because he was self-isolating, when the project was implemented, Mr. Duc acted as the project's chief architect, planning the entire project, preparing things that needed to be done such as preparing plastic cans and labels. , techniques to install the machine... "Currently, there are about 6 people supporting the project, including: 2 friends and their husbands who are also business partners looking for goods, 1 employee in the company in charge of the water supply area, 2 people specializing in machinery handling and installation techniques. In addition, there is another friend who has a pickup truck specializing in transportation support," Mr. Duc shared.

The first shipment of antiseptic solution from OSG's PG-3.0 machine of Project 687 was transported to Hoa Vang Field Hospital Photo: NVCC

Project 687 is divided into 3 phases. Phase 1 will provide 500ml disinfectant spray bottles, 100 350ml disinfectant spray bottles and 50 cans of disinfectant water (5 liters) to Hoa Vang Field Hospital. Phase 2 will continue to mobilize resources to provide disinfectant solutions for Tien Son Field Hospital, Lung Hospital, quarantine and blockade areas... Phase 3 will install disinfection chambers for hospitals is directly treating COVID – 19 patients.

Currently, the group has provided 1,000 liters of antiseptic water to frontline anti-epidemic units in the area: supporting Lien Chieu district with 730 liters of antiseptic water, supporting Hoa Cuong Wholesale Market Management Board with 60 liters, Han market with 40 liters and Con market. 20 liters of antiseptic water and 400 liters of antiseptic water for Hoa Vang Field Hospital.

Mr. Duc and the Project 687 team are also manufacturing the first disinfection chamber to install at Hoa Vang Field Hospital. “At first, I planned to import a disinfection chamber, but the cost was quite high (50 million VND/machine). Afraid that my resources were not enough, I discussed with everyone to make their own. While struggling to know where to start, an engineer contacted me and said that he had a self-researched device to separate water into steam using sound waves, with the same principle as the sterilization chamber that the project was planning to order. We started to cooperate, Project 687 will be in charge of designing the mechanical part and then turning it over to you to install the equipment," Mr. Duc said. It is expected that in about 1-2 days, the first disinfection chamber will be completed and handed over to Hoa Vang Field Hospital.

“This is a gift of gratitude that I want to send to the medical team, doctors and epidemic prevention forces who have treated and supported my whole family; It's also a small contribution to join hands with the city to prevent the COVID-19 epidemic."
Mr. Mai Anh Duc

GIANG THANH – According to Tien Phong Newspaper