The chairman made the proposal at a ceremony to celebrate the association’s 25 year anniversary. He wanted the association to connect related agencies, charitable organization, benefactors and local and international enterprises for such programs to mobilize all sources in taking care of poor people.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Phong highly lauded the association’s achievement in helping low-income people to overcome their illness affirming that city authorities are prepared to facilitate the work of the association.
Additionally, he expected that benefactors, medical workers, enterprises and all sectors will go hand in hand with the association in helping destitute people to turn HCMC into a more rewarding place to live.
Chairman of the association Tran Thanh Long said for 25 years, the association has received over VND2,500 billion ($107 million ) to provide free operations on over 8,000 children with congenital heart diseases whose families cannot afford to pay for their treatment. Moreover, the association also helped more than 527,000 adults and kids with eye disease and 38,300 kids with cleft palate to undergo operations gratis.
Additionally, it gifted 49,895 wheel chairs to people with disabilities, presented 152,000 health insurance cards to low-paid people and 37,700 scholarships to students from disadvantaged families.
On the occasion, the association was given awarded the first-class Labor Medal for the President. Besides, People’s Committee in HCMC also gave insignias to three persons, certificates of merit to four teams and 9 people that greatly contributed to charitable social works for years.
Also, the Vietnam Record Association also give certificate to recognize the Sponsoring Association for Poor Patients’ record with the 8,000th heart operations in the program of free surgeries for poor children with congenital heart disease.
