Promoting a core role in humanitarian activities.

(Baonghean) - Despite remaining organizational challenges, over the years, the Vinh City Red Cross Society has played a significant role and innovated its activities to become a leading organization with widespread influence in humanitarian and charitable work.

Le Loi Ward is one of the units highly rated in Vinh City for its work in gathering members and mobilizing resources for humanitarian and Red Cross activities. Mr. Hoang Quoc Ai, head of Block 11 in the ward, said: "The unique demographic in our block is that of retired officials; all 169 households are members of the Red Cross branch. We have implemented specific announcements, held expanded meetings to gather members' opinions, and carried out annual fundraising campaigns, linking them with a reward and punishment mechanism."

Accordingly, each member contributes 15,000 VND/year; the total funds raised reach approximately 25 million VND/year. Thanks to this, over the past two years, the group has provided timely support and encouragement to 9 disadvantaged individuals, notably Nguyen Thi Hanh, an orphan living alone; Le Thi Hoa; and 7 individuals suffering from serious illnesses, disabilities, or strokes within the group.

According to Ms. Dinh Thi Thuy Mai, President of the Le Loi Ward Red Cross Society, the ward's Red Cross Society has now gathered 19 affiliated branches (16 residential areas, 2 schools, and the ward's health station) with 127 sub-branches and 2,250 members, an increase of over 1,000 members compared to the beginning of the term. Currently, the branches are effectively managing their remaining funds, achieving balances of 3-12 million VND per branch; the ward's fund has reached 160 million VND.

Over the past five years, the ward's association has organized medical examinations for 607 people, raised over 470 million VND, and supported nearly 1,200 disadvantaged individuals through the "Tet for the Poor" and "For Victims of Agent Orange" movements; it has also donated over 100 million VND to support people in the western part of the province, contributed to flood relief efforts in Hoang Mai town, and presented gifts to soldiers on Mat Island... As a result, the association has been recognized as outstanding for five consecutive years, received a commemorative medal from the Central Association, and a Certificate of Merit from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

Leaders of the Vinh City Red Cross Society present a house of compassion. For Mr. Nguyen Van Dong - a poor household in Hamlet 14, Nghi Lien.

Due to its early establishment and organizational challenges, the Vinh City Red Cross Society has a small membership base, with a low membership rate of only 6.7% of the population and 24.4% of households. Despite increasingly demanding tasks, the understanding and awareness of the Red Cross and its work remain limited, inevitably leading to difficulties in implementation. However, during the past term, thanks to the leadership and guidance of various levels of government, and the efforts of its officials, members, youth, and volunteers, the Red Cross movement has developed steadily and comprehensively, making a positive contribution to the implementation of the Party and State's social welfare policies in the locality.

One of the highlights of the activities of the Vinh City Red Cross Society is its focus on consolidating and improving the quality of its activities and membership. Mr. Dang Hung, Chairman of the Vinh City Red Cross Society, stated: The Society has directed its grassroots branches to focus on building organizational structures and sub-branches, and promoting membership recruitment, including Red Cross youth. As a result, at the beginning of the 2011 term, the Society had only 420 sub-branches in neighborhoods, villages, and schools, but now it has 445 sub-branches (an increase of 25 sub-branches); membership has increased from over 13,000 to 21,000 members (an increase of 7,482 members). The quality of grassroots branches and sub-branches has gradually improved, with the number of outstanding grassroots branches increasing from 13 to 19 out of 25 branches (reaching 76%), and 402 out of 445 sub-branches achieving outstanding performance. Typical examples of units that have developed membership and maintained good operations include the Red Cross Society of Le Loi Ward, the Red Cross Society of Nghi Phu Commune, the Red Cross Society of Hung Dung Ward, and the Red Cross Society of Nghi Lien Commune.

Implementing the "Tet for the Poor" and "For Victims of Agent Orange" movements, every year, following the provincial Red Cross's directive, the Vinh City Red Cross Society develops a plan to direct its branches to organize fundraising campaigns among agencies, businesses, philanthropists, and all members and people in the area to support and assist with the spirit of "Everyone has a Tet - Every family can celebrate Tet." From 2011 to the present, the Vinh City Red Cross Society and its branches have mobilized and provided over 16,420 gifts to 16,420 poor and disadvantaged people, totaling over 8.2 billion VND. Each Lunar New Year, the number of beneficiaries increases, as does the amount of money provided. These practical actions contribute to alleviating the suffering of the less fortunate in society, reviving the nation's tradition of compassion, and fostering solidarity within the community.

Leaders of the Le Loi Ward People's Committee visited the family of Ms. Tran Thi Long, a disabled person in difficult circumstances, residing in Block 16.

In response to the "Each organization and individual is associated with a humanitarian cause" campaign of the Vietnam Red Cross Society, over the past five years, the Vinh City Red Cross Society has advised on and implemented surveys of 750 individuals in need of assistance. Through social mobilization, billions of VND have been raised from agencies, units, philanthropists, Red Cross officials and members, and the entire population, enabling timely support and assistance in building nine houses of compassion and Red Cross houses for victims of Agent Orange and poor households in the wards and communes of Le Loi, Hung Dung, Nghi Lien, Hung Chinh, Nghi Kim, Doi Cung, Hung Loc, and Trung Do. In addition, the association organized fundraising efforts, donating money, rice, clothes, books, and school supplies to over 10,000 impoverished individuals, victims of Agent Orange, orphans, and families affected by storms and floods in the districts of Que Phong, Quy Chau, Quy Hop, Ky Son, and Tuong Duong, worth tens of millions of dong.

Voluntary blood donation is also a program demonstrating acts of compassion and kindness that the City Red Cross Society has implemented since 2011, consistently exceeding its targets each year. The City Red Cross Society has actively coordinated with the Nghe An Provincial Blood Transfusion Center, the Vinh City Youth Union, and the City Department of Education and Training to promote voluntary blood donation among officials, civil servants, teachers, youth union members, and all segments of the population. To date, 8,000 people have registered and donated 6,274 units of blood, equivalent to 3.9 billion VND, contributing to emergency care and treatment for patients.

With these outstanding results, over the past 5 years, the Vinh City Red Cross Society has received 4 Certificates of Merit and Emulation Flags from the Central Red Cross Society for its excellent achievements in organizational development. Regarding the Red Cross movement, the Ministry of Health awarded a Certificate of Merit for voluntary blood donation; the Provincial People's Committee awarded 2 Certificates of Merit for outstanding performance in emulation movements and voluntary blood donation; 25 collectives and 69 individuals received Emulation Flags and Certificates of Merit from the Central Red Cross Society; and 34 collectives and 72 individuals received Emulation Flags and Certificates of Merit from the Provincial Red Cross Society.

The achievements during the past term have contributed to creating momentum for building a strong and highly professional Vinh City Red Cross Society, serving as the core of humanitarian and Red Cross activities in the city, helping to alleviate difficulties and improve the lives of the poor, victims of Agent Orange, war victims, disabled people, orphans, lonely elderly people, etc.

Luong Mai