More than 200 underprivileged Minh Chuan Commune, Luc Yen District residents in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai received free health consultations and medicine during a programme organised on March 24 by Dantri Newspaper in collaboration with Duc Giang General Hospital.
Minh Chuan Commune remains disadvantaged, particularly after being severely affected by Typhoon Yagi in 2024.
According to Nong Thanh Nhiem, Vice Chairman of Minh Chuan Commune People's Committee, the commune still faces numerous difficulties and was heavily devastated by flash floods and landslides caused by Yagi late last year.
"After Typhoon Yagi, not only livelihoods but also the health of the people here were affected due to environmental pollution. Therefore, today's health consultation and medical support programme will help alleviate some of their burdens," Nhiem said.
Upon hearing about the health consultation event, many residents arranged their schedules to arrive early at Minh Chuan Commune Health Station.
Due to financial constraints and poor road conditions, accessing healthcare services remains challenging for locals.
Hoang Thi Luoc, 70, and her husband, who live in Khanh Trong Hamlet, 8km from the consultation site, arrived right after lunch.
Hoang Thi Luoc and her husband at the event.
"When our hamlet announced that doctors and medical staff from Hanoi were coming, we were overjoyed and immediately made arrangements to go," Luoc shared.
According to Doctor Nguyen Trong Nghia from Duc Giang General Hospital, the hospital deployed doctors specialising in ophthalmology, otolaryngology, dentistry, and internal medicine to provide medical consultations. Priority was given to disadvantaged individuals, war veterans, the elderly, and children, who received both health advice and free medication.
Ha Thanh Ngon, a war veteran, suffered a head injury in a US bombing raid in Quang Tri in 1968. During this visit, he received health consultations and free medicine from the doctors.
Ha Thanh Ngon receivedshealth consultations and free medicine from the doctors.
Through this programme, over 200 residents of Minh Chuan Commune, including approximately 150 adults and over 50 children from local primary and secondary schools, received health consultations.
In addition to health consultations, CG Vietnam Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company collaborated with Dantri Newspaper to provide each participant with a set of medicines or supplements worth approximately VND200,000.
Vinapharma-Group Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company sponsored 100 products, including cough relief medicine and joint support supplements, each valued at VND330,000.
According to Dr Nghia, the most common health issues among the elderly in the commune were hypertension, musculoskeletal disorders, and gastrointestinal diseases. For children, dermatological conditions, throat infections, and digestive issues were prevalent. During the event, parents also received guidance on preventing and managing common illnesses in children.
The free health consultation and medicine distribution initiative is a community project by Dantri Newspaper that aims to spread kindness and improve healthcare access for those in need.
Dantri Newspaper has collaborated with leading hospitals and local authorities to organise 16 programmes across various provinces. In 2024 alone, 2,300 people have benefited from free health consultations and medication.
The health consultation and free medicine distribution event in Minh Chuan Commune marks the second programme of the year.
By 2025, the newspaper plans to organise 15 more programmes, bringing central hospital healthcare services to remote and disadvantaged communities.
