Octogenarian doctor keeps fit by aiding the poor

VietNamNet Bridge – When he reached 80 you could have forgiven Nguyen Van Thanh for deciding to take things easy. But that wasn't good enough for Thanh (now almost 88) who decided instead to set up a herbal practice on Phu Quoc island, where he treats patients for free.

"Thanh's coming was a godsend to the people of Cua Can Commune who were so poor they would sell their possessions to pay for medical treatment," says Hai Minh, Vice Chairman of Cua Can Red Cross Association.

"A bamboo clinic was built, but because Thanh didn't have enough money to pay for herbal medicines he was forced to take out a loan," he adds.

Soon his practice began to take off - on one day alone he treated 50 patients. In return for his kindness, villagers helped him build a better clinic.

He also taught them to identify medicinal herbs, which they collect for him as he is now too old to go foraging for plants himself.

"At the clinic in Cua Can, tens of thousand of people have received free treatment," says Hai Xuan, a voluntary helper at the clinic. "Thanh gives detailed descriptions to patients of their illness, which reassures them."

Thanh's relatives often visit and ask him to return home with them, but he refuses, preferring instead to get up at the crack of dawn and work through till late at night.

"If I go, then who will treat my patients?" he tells his relatives. "When there are no patients on the island, I will go with you."

Early beginnings

Thanh was born in 1920 in Cai Rang District, in the southern province of Can Tho. He began learning herbal medicine when he was seven from Hai Phuoc Tien, a renowned Taoist hermit living in That Son (Seven Mountain Range).

"At that time, That Son was beset by dangers from all sides - poisonous snakes, tigers, robbers," says Thanh.

Once, Thanh, by himself, had to fight off several robbers who had come to steal the precious herbs he'd collected over many years and used to treat villagers in That Son.
Following the attack Thanh moved to My Tho District and worked as an assistant in herbal medicine shop.

Then, medical knowledge was limited. People often treated diseases with herbs from their gardens without knowing what they were doing, and often made their illness worse," says Thanh.

Towards the end of 1999, Thanh travelled to Phu Quoc island, planning to stay a month. However, when he discovered just how poor medical care was on the island, he decided to remain.

"I'm old now and nothing is better than helping others. When a sick patient recovers I feel stronger," he says.