Although there are quite large differences in natural conditions as well as economic, cultural and social conditions between the Hai Chau District chapter and Hoa Vang District chapter of the Association for Poor Women and Children Protection, both districts have made great efforts to take care of and help poor women and vulnerable children to overcome difficulties and diseases.

Accompanying vulnerable women and children

As the central district of the city, however, Hai Chau district has many poor women and children who face difficulties and health problems in life. For over past time, the district chapter Association for Poor Women and Children Protection in tandem with its collaborators in the wards and residential groups have always paid sincere attention as well as finding ways to help them overcome adversity.

The Association annually actively cooperates with the district health centre, the Cardiology Center of Da Nang Hospital, the ward-based medical facilities and primary schools locally to screen children for congenital heart disease. Since 2016, the whole has district detected 392 children with congenital heart disease, 79 children received timely interventional surgery, the remaining children were kept on a list to monitor their health with the total cost of over VND 4.7 billion. In addition, 28 children with serious illnesses such as cancer, kidney failure, unexpected accidents were also supported with an amount of nearly VND 100 million for medical treatment.

Moreover,  the district-based Association also mobilized different sponsors to hand over 1,435 gifts to needy children with a total of VND 451 million. At the same time, the unit also joined with health centres, associations and youth union organizations in doing screening for 5,725 poor women and providing timely treatment for 30 cases of cancer; mobilizing from sponsors to support 1,572 poor women with an amount of over VND 744 million.

According to Mr Huynh Van Hoa, Chairman of the municipal Association for the Poor Women and Children Protection, Hai Chau district's encouraging results have stemmed from its proactive approach and specific plans for next year. Besides, the district chapter of the Association has not only mobilized but also invited sponsors to hand over gifts to the recipients so that they can feel at ease when their gifts are presented to the right ones in need of support.

Take advantage of all resources

In a similar vein, accompanying in the care of poor women and vulnerable children in Hoa Vang district is the active companionship and support from the district-based Party Committee, People's Committee, district chapter of Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, Association for Poor Women and Children Protection, Department of Education and Training in tandem with 11 commune health facilities and benefactors.

Since 2016, 35,328 local children have been screened at schools and 236 children were found to have heart disease, of which 135 children underwent surgery with a total cost of nearly VND 6.5 billion. For poor women, the association has organized cancer screening for 6,377 women so far, thereby helping 475 women to have serious diseases treatment promptly.

Over the past time, the Association has mobilized many resources to take care and timely help poor women as well as needy children with VND 308 million supporting children after heart surgery, nearly VND 500 million helping 118 women and children suffering from serious diseases. The municipal Youth Union has also supported 1,572 poor women to treat their diseases with an amount of VND 744 million, presented gifts on the occasion of the Lunar New Year with a total of over VND 1.6 billion.

In particular, the unit also took advantage of the funding from the ‘Building Hoa Vang to a new countryside’ programme to organize medical examination and treatment for poor women and children suffering from serious diseases with an amount of more than VND 3.4 billion; support to build charity houses for poor women with the total of VND 150 million.

According to Ms Do Thi Kim Linh, Vice President of the Municipal Association for Poor Women and Children Protection, over the past few years, thanks to following the direction and help of the district authorities, the effective coordination from the relevant agencies as well as the joint support of the domestic and foreign sponsors, Hoa Vang district has always done a good job of taking care of and helping disadvantaged women and children with serious illnesses.

Reporting by THANH VAN- Translating by T.VY