Imprints of a term - Belief for a new journey - Part 3: Sustainable social security foundation

In the period of 2020-2025, Ho Chi Minh City has experienced historical events, especially the Covid-19 pandemic, but it is in the midst of hardship that the city's spirit of compassion shines even brighter. From the expanded social security network to specific policies on health, education, sustainable poverty reduction..., all aim to improve the quality of life of the people, leaving no one behind.

Solid support

On a September afternoon, in a small rented room in an alley on Thoai Ngoc Hau Street (Phu Thanh Ward), the sound of Mrs. Tran Thi Lung's sewing machine rang out regularly. While sewing clothes for customers and preparing dinner for her two children (one is a student, the other is in 6th grade), Mrs. Lung was always running back and forth between the kitchen corner and the sewing machine.

People buy goods at preferential prices at the charity festival organized by Vinh Hoi ward (HCMC). Photo: THAI PHUONG

More than 20 years ago, she and her husband left their hometown to move to Ho Chi Minh City. Although life was not yet prosperous, it was always warm. Then tragedy struck the family in 2021, when the Covid-19 pandemic took her husband away. “I was devastated, but looking at my two young children, I had to stand up,” said Mrs. Lung. Thanks to support from the government, organizations and many kind-hearted people, her eldest son was able to pay his tuition, and her youngest son received an annual scholarship. The family gradually stabilized, raising hope for the future.

Ms. Do Thi Kim Tinh (An Dong ward) was moved when recalling the day the local authority supported her rickety house with 80 million VND to repair and raise the foundation. Before, every time it rained heavily, the family lived with flooding. With the local authority's mobilization and financial support, along with a little savings, the family was able to repair the house. Now, the house has been repaired, enough to protect from the sun and rain, helping the parents go to work with peace of mind and the children study with peace of mind.

Stories like those of Ms. Lung and Ms. Tinh show that Ho Chi Minh City's social security network has promptly supported the disadvantaged, in line with the city's humanitarian and compassionate spirit. During the pandemic, Ho Chi Minh City launched a series of emergency support packages. In 2021 alone, nearly VND 12,000 billion was spent to support more than 7.8 million people. "Social security packages", "Zero-dong supermarkets", "Rice ATMs, Oxygen ATMs" became symbols of compassion. Coming out of the pandemic, in the 2020-2025 period, the city strengthened its health system with 34 new hospitals, 106 renovated medical stations, reaching a rate of 21 doctors and 43 hospital beds per 10,000 people. The policy of exempting tuition fees for general education from kindergarten to grade 12 was also implemented, helping millions of students go to school without their families having to bear the financial burden.

In addition, the sustainable poverty reduction program of Ho Chi Minh City (before the merger) is also a strong mark when it becomes one of the typical programs and projects to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025). The city has completed the poverty reduction target 2 years ahead of schedule. The Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation and the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union have spent more than VND 2,343 billion to take care of workers, including freelance workers. Along with that, the city's "Repaying gratitude" movement has developed with many practical activities, spreading to every neighborhood, residential group, ward, commune, agency, enterprise, school, thereby mobilizing the combined strength of the community to join hands in taking care of policy work.

Spreading the power of community

Mr. Phan Hong An, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, said that in the period of 2021-2025, the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation and the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union (a member organization of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Ho Chi Minh City) have effectively carried out many important tasks. Especially in the work of political and ideological education for union members and young workers. Along with that, patriotic emulation movements and the "Good workers, creative workers" movement have created an environment for young workers to improve their skills, expertise, foreign languages, and promote their pioneering role in production and integration.

Speaking at many working sessions with departments, branches and localities, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc emphasized that Ho Chi Minh City has long been known as a city of love. The city determines that economic development always goes hand in hand with social security. Therefore, the city has a comprehensive solution to mobilize strength and resources from society in combination with State resources to effectively implement social security policies, well implementing the requirements to improve and enhance the material and cultural life of the people, especially those in the policy and disadvantaged groups.

Pay attention to the issue of job creation for poor households, educate the awareness of self-improvement, and sustainable poverty escape. At the same time, promote and further improve the effectiveness of the movement of the whole people uniting to build a cultural life, building a ward that meets urban civilization standards, and building a healthy cultural environment with practical and specific content.

From the practical movement, more than 75,000 workers and laborers have been promoted to worker level and have their salaries increased; hundreds of young workers, engineers, union presidents, and outstanding youth leaders have been honored at prestigious awards. In addition, the work of caring for and accompanying young workers continues to be expanded and spread to freelance workers, unions, boarding houses, and residence areas. In particular, the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation pays special attention to union members of motorbike taxi, vehicle repair, loading and unloading, private sanitation workers, preschool teachers, and non-public nannies in difficult circumstances...

In parallel with taking care of people living in the city, in recent years, the city has also demonstrated the spirit of "the whole country for Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City for the whole country". During the third storm in 2024, the city mobilized nearly 333 billion VND and 280 tons of goods to support people to overcome the damage. In addition, responding to the emulation movement "The whole country joins hands to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses by 2025", the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee decided to spend the 2025 budget to support the implementation of the policy of eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses for the provinces: Ca Mau, Kon Tum, Ben Tre, Lao Cai, with an amount of 209 billion VND... Along with that, many civil works and activities towards border and island areas have also been implemented by the city.

Ho Chi Minh City is entering a new phase with the belief that economic development must go hand in hand with social security, so that every citizen, regardless of their circumstances, can settle down, start a business and be happy. According to Vice Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Tran Thi Dieu Thuy, in the journey of construction and development, Ho Chi Minh City always has close guidance from the Party and State leaders; and the companionship and support of localities. In response to those favors, the city always shows through practical actions, from financial contributions, sharing resources to necessary and timely humanitarian support at all times. This clearly demonstrates the spirit of "the whole country for Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City for the whole country", contributing to strengthening national solidarity.

Comrade Tran Thi Dieu Thuy affirmed that Ho Chi Minh City has continuously developed comprehensively, affirming its role as the economic and social center of the whole country. In that journey, the city has always been a pioneer in implementing mechanisms and policies to help mobilize and effectively use resources to protect, care for and improve the health, stature, longevity and quality of life of the people. Ho Chi Minh City has gradually consolidated and developed comprehensively from preventive medicine, grassroots medicine to specialized medicine, aiming at the goal of comprehensive health care. At the same time, it has continuously expanded free medical examination and treatment programs, health insurance for the disadvantaged, people in difficult circumstances...

Binh Duong Province (formerly) has invested resources in the fields of education, health, culture, and social security. In particular, it has allocated budget capital to build 86 new schools, standardize modern equipment, and raise the rate of public schools meeting national standards to 83.48%. At the same time, it has focused on strongly socializing the health sector; improving the quantity and quality of medical examination and treatment facilities.

Ba Ria - Vung Tau province (formerly) in the period of 2021-2025 has also completed the elimination of poor households according to national standards and multidimensional standards of the province; spent 10,000 billion VND to implement breakthrough policies on supporting education, health, social security and national target programs; put into operation 61 new schools at all levels, raising the rate of schools meeting national standards to 80%. The health sector has gradually developed comprehensively, ready to respond effectively to epidemics. Medical examination and treatment activities and the provision of medical services have been constantly improved; medical facilities and equipment have been prioritized for synchronous investment and towards modernization.

N.BINH - T.HOAI - C.Tuyet - T.Phuong

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/dau-an-mot-nhiem-ky-niem-tin-cho-chang-duong-moi-bai-3-nen-tang-an-sinh-ben-vung-post814402.html