The Tzu Chi Foundation offers Covid-19 relief to 10 households living in Thanh Xuan Trung and Nhan Chinh wards of Hanoi's Thanh Xuan district. Source: HAUFO

The Taiwan-based Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation with relief aid in more than 100 countries has offered Covid-19 relief to Vietnam’s biggest cities Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

On the afternoon of Oct. 8, in Hanoi, the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations (HAUFO) and the Hanoi Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in collaboration with the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Thanh Xuan district and the Tzu Chi Foundation presented 300 gifts to people living in Thanh Xuan Trung and Nhan Chinh wards of Thanh Xuan district, facing difficulties due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A total of 300 gifts, worth VND 210 million (USD 9,200) was handed to households and workers who had lost their jobs and were facing difficulties due to the impact of Covid-19 in Hanoi's Thanh Xuan district.

Each gift package included rice, sugar, cooking oil, seasoning, rice noodles, and medical masks. In order to ensure the prevention and control of Covid-19, the organizing committee gave gifts to representatives of 10 households at the ceremony.

Speaking at the event, Tran Thi Phuong, HAUFO standing vice president, said that in response to the call of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Hanoi city to support needy groups due Covid-19, the HAUFO has campaigned and received the support of embassies and international organizations in Hanoi, including the Tzu Chi Foundation.

The event is among many support programs for people affected by the pandemic. Recently, together with the Hanoi Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Hanoi Friendship Union has given 421 gifts to foreigners in need of support. These gifts help households and workers who have lost their livelihoods due to Covid-19, to somewhat stabilize their lives, continuing in line with the city and local authorities in the prevention of the pandemic", Phuong shared.

Vietnam’s Covid-19 caseload now stands at 826,837, of which 822,238 are the result of the fourth wave of infections that began in late April.

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest hotspot in the country in recent months, continued to record the highest daily case count at 1,730. Hanoi the capital reported three news cases in the same day.

More than 5,600 patients nationwide are in serious condition, according to the Ministry of Health’s report, with 745 requiring invasive ventilation and 23 on life support (ECMO).

Tzu Chi volunteers hand over goods in Ho Chi Minh City-based People's Hospital 115. Source: Tzu Chi Foundation

On Oct. 7, the Tzu Chi Foundation also presented medical equipment and supplies to the Red Cross Society of HCM City.

The association received five 5-liter oxygen generators, 1 HFNC CPAP (AD-I) ventilator, 10 electric injection pumps, 1,000 Covid-19 rapid test kits, 15,000 N95 masks, and 15,000 medical protective suits, with total value of more than VND 2.7 billion.

Medical equipment and supplies were given to Trung Vuong, Nguyen Trai, Pham Ngoc Thach Hospitals, People's Hospital 115 and Hospital 30-4 to strengthen the treatment of Covid-19 patients and protect the health of medical staff in the process of caring for and interacting with patients.

The donation is of great significance as the treatment of Covid-19 patients in HCM City has a long way to go.

The Tzu Chi Foundation held aid distributions in Ho Chi Minh City with the help of the HCM City Red Cross Society and other other organizations. Photo: Tzu Chi Foundation

Previously, the Tzu Chi Foundation has accompanied the HCM City Red Cross Society to give 2,952 Lunar New Year (Tet) gifts to support households in difficult circumstances and 500 scholarships to poor students in the city, with a total value of over VND 5.6 billion.

Established in 1966, the Tzu Chi Foundation has been licensed to work in Vietnam since 2003, covering natural disaster relief, donation Tet gifts for the poor, and scholarship for children in poverty.

The foundation also donated Covid-19 relief to affected areas in Bac Giang, Binh Phuoc and Hai Duong provinces.

In 1993, Tzu Chi’s founder Dharma Master Cheng Yen was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1991 she received the Ramon Magsaysay Award, given to honor the late Philippine president and considered the “Asian Nobel Peace Prize” for community leadership.

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