Since its official operation late last year, the Hai Chau District War Veterans’ Health Care and Constancy Club, under the direct management of the Da Nang War Veterans’ Association, has brought many benefits to those who once served in the country’s resistance wars.

Doctor Huynh Ba Tan (right) donating a set of instruments for ears, nose and throat examinations, valued at nearly 20 million VND, to the Salavan Provincial Infirmary No1

Chaired by doctor Huynh Ba Tan, this special club has a total of 44 members who have worked for military medical establishments for many years, and majority of them are retired physicians and specialists.

Every month, the club, in cooperation with the Da Nang War Veterans’ Association, offers healthcare consulting to war veterans and senior citizens. They are introduced to the ways how to effectively avoid chronic diseases by which the elderly are likely to be affected, especially those who joined in resistance wars against the French and US troops.

In addition, the advices are given to them about the early signs and symptoms of such common diseases as hypertension, cardiovascular, deafness, tinnitus, diabetes, and head and neck cancers.

At a recent meeting with war veterans from Hoa Thuan Tay Ward, two retired doctors, Nguyen Van Ba and Dao Thi Kim Lien, were very enthusiastic on sharing their experiences and answering all questions raised by the elderly about how to maintain their physical strength, as well as introducing them to herbal medicines used to treat their chronic diseases.

Meanwhile, at another meeting in Hoa Cuong Bac Ward, doctors Dinh Duc Anh and Le Thi Hai Ninh briefed the attendees on an effective combination of traditional Oriental and Western medicines.

Notably, the club’s managers are actively involved in appealing for the Veterans For Peace, which is an international organisation made up of military veterans, military family members, and allies, to provide free-of-charge medicines and medical commodities for war veterans affected by Agent Orange.

This meaningful activity is part of the health protection and care programme launched by the municipal Union of Friendship Organisations.

The club recently joined a local medical team to provide 700 Lao war veterans with free-of-charge medical examinations and medicines worth 80 million VND in total, funded by the Da Nang Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment Joint Stock Company (Dapharco).

Doctor Huynh Ba Tan, himself, donated a set of instruments for ears, nose and throat examinations, valued at nearly 20 million VND, to the Salavan Provincial Infirmary No1.

In particular, the club's managers have encouraged a domestic association to provide free sets of hearing aids for 70 local war veterans and elderly people who are deaf and hearing-impaired.

These beneficiaries were given these useful devices, worth between 4 million VND and 8 million VND each, depending on the level of hearing loss.

Mr Huynh Minh Chuc, the Chairman of the municipal War Veterans’ Association, confidently remarked that the Hai Chau District War Veterans’ Health Care and Constancy Club is a new, innovative model that brings great benefits to local war veterans, and the community as a whole.

Of note, the operation of this model is also considered as an active and practical response to the landmark national campaign for studying and following the ideology, morality and lifestyle of late President Ho Chi Minh.