Over recent years, social protection activities across Da Nang have achieved many positive results, especially in taking care of children and the elderly thanks to the city’s great efforts in upgrading infrastructure, and enhancing management capacity and the quality of support activities as well.

The Da Nang Social Protection Centre organises a ceremony to celebrate the Viet Nam Day for Older Persons.

Caring and nurturing work is done thoughtfully

The Da Nang Centre for Social Protection received 75-year-old Nguyen Thi Tam, who is living alone without her husband and children and blind, and homeless Le Thi Tam, 76, who is living in Thac Gian Ward, Thanh Khe District, in August and May 2022 respectively based on the request of the local authorities.

Those are 2 out of the 11 elderly people who volunteer to live at the city's Centre for Social Protection since the beginning of the year.

Director of the Centre Nguyen Thi To Uyen said that since early this year, the centre has received 65 people. 57 of them are wandering and need urgent care, whilst the remainder are recommended by the local authorities.

Up to now, the centre is managing 178 people, including 85 women and 15 children. The rate of elderly people and people with disabilities who cannot serve themselves reaches 70%.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi To Uyen, the centre' staff provide thoughtful care for people.

The centre actively improves the quality of meals, with a focus on ensuring nutrition, and medical care - rehabilitation and personal care activities, for the elderly and children.

In addition, cultural and artistic activities are regularly organised, especially in major public holidays and Tet Festival, to improve both physical and mental health for the elderly.

According to the municipal Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, 13 social support establishments citywide are caring for 1,823 elderly people, people with disabilities, orphans, and itinerant beggars, of which 613 are from outside the city. The operational costs of the public establishments are funded by the city’s budget.

As for non-public establishments, the city budget shall provide funding for people in accordance with the Government's regulations. The operational costs of non-public establishments come from financial aid sources from government organisations and generous individuals and organizations.

Completing system of mechanisms and policies

In 2021, the city will pilot a fee-for-service model for the elderly in need who voluntarily live at the city's Centre for Social Protection.

Initially, 11 people have registered for the service with a monthly cost of VND6 million for those who are able to take care of themselves and VND9 million for those who are not able to take care of themselves. So far, 2 people have returned to their families.

During the 2012-2020 period, the city’s social welfare policy is developing synchronously with the focus on perfecting the legal system, developing specific policies, expanding the coverage, and increasing support level.

Mr. Le Van Minh, Deputy Director of the city's Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said that the city continues to improve the quality of its operations, manage the infrastructure system for social welfare, and enhance the quality of life of the people, especially the disadvantaged, in a bid to meet its development requirements during the 2021-2030 period.

The city strives to ensure that 100% of the elderly, the disabled, and children without any source of nourishment are eligible to receive monthly social allowances in the community, and 100% of lonely elderly people, the disabled, and orphans are cared for at social protection centres. Also, importance will be attached to raising the standard of subsidies and social assistance to 30-50% compared with the central standard.

Furthermore, heed will be paid to supplementing and perfecting the system of mechanisms and policies on social welfare, developing infrastructure and system of social security services in a synchronous and sustainable manner, and mobilising social capitals and diversifying resources to support social welfare activities.

Reporting by KHANH HOA - Translating by M.DUNG