Since its establishment 15 years ago, the Da Nang Association for Supporting Poor and Disadvantaged Women and Children has raised a total of billions of VND from generous domestic and foreign donors to help thousands of women and children in very difficult circumstances.  In addition, one focus has been on building new houses for 126 poor single women in the city thanks to the help of local construction units. 

The Association’s Honorary Chairman Dang Viet Dung (4th right) and some Association members

Most notably, the Da Nang Women’s Hospital was established in 2009 under the management of the Association.  The intention is to provide medical examinations and treatment for local poor and very poor women with life-threatening diseases. 

During that period, the Hospital has provided cancer screening for thousands of poor women.  In particular, some of them have been diagnosed with cancer, and then received medical treatment at the Hospital.  Moreover, local poor and very poor women have also enjoyed the Hospital’s fee exemptions or reductions.

In addition, the Association has implemented a programme to provide poor children with free screening tests for the early detection of congenital heart complaints.  The programme’s participants diagnosed with congenital heart complaints have then received free surgery.  All the surgical costs have been funded by donations from generous domestic and foreign individuals and organisations through the Association.

In attempting to ease physical and spiritual pain with cancer patients, the Association’s leaders did their utmost to appeal for donations from generous donors from both home and abroad to build a cancer hospital for the poor. 

As a result, the Da Nang Cancer Hospital was officially opened in January 2013.  Situated in Lien Chieu District’s Hoa Minh Ward, the 500-bed hospital covers an area of 15ha and it cost over 1.500 trillion VND to build, with the funds raised from domestic and foreign individuals and organisations.  The hospital is the first of its kind in the central region and highlands to provide free examinations and treatment for local poor patients.  In addition, it has given free rice soup (chao) to poor patients, and free accommodation for their relatives.

The success of the Association over the last 15 years has been mainly attributed to the devotion of its leaders, the enthusiasm of its members, and the great leadership of the city authorities.

Thanks to its great efforts for the city’s social welfare programmes, the Association has received a third-class Labour Medal and a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister, plus many emulation flags and Certificates of Merit from the municipal People’s Committee and the local Fatherland Front Committee.