Nghe An Provincial Red Cross Society: 45 Years of Humanitarian Journey

Proud achievements

The Nghe An Provincial Red Cross Society was established on August 14, 1979. Over 45 years of development and growth, the Provincial Red Cross Society has consistently played a core role as a bridge and coordinator of humanitarian activities. Currently, the province has 480 Red Cross societies at the commune, ward, and town levels; 386 societies in agencies, universities, colleges, vocational schools, high schools, junior high schools, and businesses; 4,941 branches; 69,661 members; 76,725 youth and teenagers; and 8,827 volunteers.

The Red Cross Societies at all levels in Nghe An province inherit and promote the traditions of the Vietnam Red Cross Society, always adhering to the province's political tasks and the organization's goals and objectives, carrying out many practical activities, demonstrating their core role as a bridge and coordinator in humanitarian activities; and effectively participating in the implementation of the Party and State's social welfare policies.

In the "Compassionate Tet" campaign, the entire association, in coordination with departments, agencies, organizations, and sponsors, mobilized and organized the distribution of 422,267 gift packages, worth over 208 billion VND, exceeding the assigned target; contributing to bringing warm and joyful Tet holidays to the poor in the province.

The campaign "Each organization, each individual is linked to a humanitarian cause," with the innovative approaches of the various levels of associations, has resulted in assistance being provided to 92,168 humanitarian causes, worth 68.3 billion VND.

The "Cattle Bank" project, launched in 2008, has since been expanded throughout the province. The project has been implemented effectively, helping people overcome poverty and take control of their lives. Local associations have successfully solicited support and provided breeding cattle from organizations and individuals, distributing over 1,000 breeding cows to poor families in particularly difficult circumstances in mountainous, remote, and border areas; with a total value exceeding 1 billion VND. The total number of breeding cows provided to date is 1,850.

Emergency support activities were carried out promptly and targeted by all levels of the association. Accordingly, 45,215 individuals facing hardship or misfortune received financial and material assistance worth over 13 billion VND. Regular support was provided to over 25,000 individuals in particularly difficult circumstances through various forms: building charitable houses, granting scholarships, providing health insurance cards, medical examinations and treatment, and supporting production capital.

In particular, since 2018, the province has implemented a "Humanitarian Month," with May each year becoming the peak month for nationwide humanitarian activities; spreading the value of compassion in the community in line with the theme "Connecting, Sharing, and Spreading." Annually, the association mobilizes resources for building houses, donating gifts, and providing livelihoods totaling over 26 billion VND.

"The Red Cross is for everyone, everywhere."

One of the outstanding activities of the Provincial Red Cross Society in recent years has been the effective implementation of propaganda and mobilization of people to participate in voluntary blood donation. As a result, voluntary blood donation has achieved high results, promptly meeting the demand for blood for emergency care and treatment of patients.

Through voluntary blood donation programs such as "Red Journey," "Red Sunday," "Spring Festival of Red," and "Drop of Red in White Blouses," a large number of volunteers have been attracted annually. Voluntary blood donation clubs and rare blood type bank clubs continue to be maintained and operate effectively, promptly meeting the blood needs of hospitals when necessary. To date, the province has 25 voluntary blood donation clubs with 345 members, including one rare blood type club. The total number of blood units received from 2008 to 2023 reached 368,925 units.

Furthermore, in response to the "Humanitarian Medical Examination and Treatment, Community Health Care" campaign launched annually by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society, the Provincial Red Cross Society directs districts to carry out health care work for the people. Over the past 15 years, the society has coordinated with relevant agencies and units, such as Vinh International Hospital, Vinh Medical University, district-level hospitals, and businesses, to organize free medical examinations, provide free medicine, and perform eye surgeries for over 309,234 poor people, policy beneficiaries, and people in difficult circumstances; and donated 1,264 wheelchairs to people with disabilities.

To achieve these results, the Red Cross at all levels has played a pivotal role, acting as a bridge and coordinator in humanitarian activities. From primarily distributing relief supplies, humanitarian activities have now been diversified through the implementation of seven areas of activity as stipulated in the Law on Red Cross Activities. As a result, the Red Cross has developed many new models, implemented numerous internationally funded programs and projects; and its collaboration with neighboring provinces has become increasingly effective. The Red Cross at all levels has also successfully implemented major movements and campaigns launched by the Vietnam Red Cross Central Committee, creating widespread impact and receiving enthusiastic support from organizations and individuals.

Looking back on 45 years of construction and development, we are immensely proud of the achievements of the Provincial Red Cross Society. This is the result of the efforts, training, and dedication of all officials, members, volunteers, and Red Cross youth throughout the province, along with the effective cooperation of charitable organizations in the province, nationwide, and international friends.

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In the coming period, all levels of the Red Cross will proactively review and accurately assess the current situation regarding the organizational structure, personnel, members, volunteers, and Red Cross youth in the province, building a streamlined organizational structure and personnel to ensure effective and efficient operation; strongly shifting the humanitarian activities of the Red Cross towards linking them with the implementation of political tasks in the socio-economic development of each locality, agency, and unit, through national target programs on building new rural areas, civilized urban areas, and sustainable poverty reduction; proactively advising Party committees and authorities to promptly implement key tasks stipulated in the Law on Red Cross Activities; annually focusing on organizing the "Humanitarian Month" and the "Tet for the Poor and Victims of Agent Orange" movement; the "Each organization, each individual is associated with a humanitarian cause" campaign... contributing to fulfilling its core role in the humanitarian and charitable mission. Helping thousands of people overcome difficulties and improve their lives.

Ms. Nguyen Luong Hong - Chairperson of the Nghe An Provincial Red Cross Society