With the aim of providing charity, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and the Vietnam Red Cross have cooperated with hospitals in District 1 and the Ho Chi Minh City’s Preventive Health Centre to provide free medical check-ups and treatment to over 300 poor patients in Ong Lanh Bridge Ward, District 1. This is part of program ‘Youth Act for the Poor’, which is organize by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union. In addition, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee also offered 300 New Year gifts to the poor, each worth VND50,000. The Vietnam Red Cross donated free medicines, worth more than VND10 million (US$500). In 2010, the Vietnam Red Cross (VRC) spent billions dong in supporting the poor of Vietnam. VRC canvassed individuals and organizations, so that money could be raise, in order to help many disadvantage people. VRC raise over VND188.058 billion ($9.5 million) for poor people during Tet. In 2010, in the program entitled ‘Action Month for victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin’, the Vietnam Red Cross raise over VND55.878 billion, for those victims still suffering; and also in 2010, the Red Cross raise VND51.469 billion for food victims. (www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn [1] Jan 3)
