Children with critical illnesses undergoing treatment at the HCM City Children's Hospital 1. — VNA/VNS Photos Đinh Hằng

HCM CITY — HCM City on July 30 officially launched a dedicated programme to mobilise social resources to support children suffering from critical illnesses, ensuring they receive not only medical treatment and mental healthcare, but also continued access to education.

The initiative, called "Accompanying and caring for children with critical illnesses", was co-organised by the Việt Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) Committee of HCM City and the city’s Social Welfare Fund Management Board.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Nguyễn Phước Lộc, deputy secretary of the city Party Committee and chairman of the city’s VFF Committee, said healthcare facilities must standardise and expand in-hospital classes.

When suffering from serious illnesses, children spend long periods in hospitals, which severely disrupts their education, he said.

“Therefore, hospital classes must be organised systematically, synchronously, and maintained regularly so that no child loses the opportunity to learn due to illness," he said.

He also called on teachers and qualified volunteers with pedagogical background to join the effort on a long-term basis to ensure teaching quality for the young patients.

Currently, around 1,000 children are undergoing long-term monitoring and treatment at major hospitals across the city for life-threatening conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, organ transplants, cancer, and dioxin exposure.

Behind every young patient is a family facing immense financial, emotional, and time pressures.

Timely support is essential not only to sustain their treatment but also to give them and their families the faith to keep fighting.

Leaders of the HCM City Party Committee and the VFF Committee present gifts to children with critical illnesses at the HCM City Children's Hospital 1 on July 30.

The programme will initially focus on children receiving treatment at five key medical centres in the city, including Children's Hospital 1, Children's Hospital 2, City Children's Hospital, HCM City Oncology Hospital, and Blood Transfusion Haematology Hospital.

To kickstart the initiative, the city’s Social Welfare Fund has pledged VNĐ1 billion (US$39,500) to each of the five participating hospitals.

More than VNĐ3 billion ($118,500) was raised from businesses, organisations, and individual donors during the launch event.

On this occasion, the organisers presented 170 gift packages to children currently undergoing treatment at the HCM City Children's Hospital 1.

City leaders asked medical facilities and relevant agencies to carefully review each case to ensure aid is delivered transparently, promptly, and to the right beneficiaries.

The city VFF will serve as the central body coordinating resources and monitoring progress to guarantee the programme’s long-term sustainability. — VNS