Practical approaches that need to be replicated.

On November 18th, in an interview with reporters about this issue, Mr. Dinh Phu Cuong, Principal of Nguyen Van Luong Secondary School (District 6, Ho Chi Minh City), said that after two days of appeals, the school had received support totaling 200 health insurance cards for its students.

According to Mr. Cuong, every year the school collaborates with the District 6 Social Insurance agency to implement the health insurance policy for parents and students. In previous years, the situation wasn't too difficult, but this year, when the school implemented the collection of health insurance premiums from students according to regulations, they learned that many students come from very difficult circumstances; some have unemployed parents, some are orphans, etc.

Donating health insurance cards to disadvantaged students in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to Mr. Cuong, every year the school receives many flowers and cakes as gifts for Teachers' Day on November 20th. The flowers and cakes are beautiful and delicious, but they have to be thrown away after only one day. Therefore, the school board met and unanimously agreed to convert these gifts into health insurance cards for the students, as this is truly essential for them. “Fortunately, the parents and sponsors of the school were very supportive, so after two days of launching the campaign, the initial number of health insurance cards requested was 89 for 89 students. But parents have already donated 200 health insurance cards, so the school has announced that the campaign is ending. With the remaining cards, we will seek their opinion to save them and use them to care for the students during the upcoming Lunar New Year,” Mr. Cuong shared.

Previously, Mr. Dinh Phu Cuong wrote an open letter with simple words that "caused a stir" in the community, proposing that instead of giving flower baskets and cakes on Vietnamese Teachers' Day (November 20th), agencies, businesses, parents, and philanthropists "change to giving health insurance cards" for the school to distribute to disadvantaged students. This open letter, coinciding with the Vietnamese Teachers' Day celebration (November 20th), quickly garnered widespread attention and support from the community.

About 350km from Ho Chi Minh City, in the sunny and windy Central Highlands, Ms. Doan Thi Tuyet Yen, Principal of To Hieu Primary School (Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province), also moved and warmed the hearts of many parents and students with her open letter proposing to "exchange" flowers and gifts for health insurance cards to care for poor students on Vietnamese Teachers' Day.

In the letter, Ms. Tuyet Yen stated that To Hieu Primary School still has 55 students who, due to difficult circumstances, do not have the money to buy health insurance cards. Through this open letter, the school respectfully requests that instead of giving flowers to the school, esteemed organizations, businesses, and parents please donate health insurance cards to students in particularly difficult circumstances. Each card is worth 631,800 VND. Just two days after the appeal, To Hieu Primary School has initially raised 15 health insurance cards to donate to students in difficult circumstances…

Speaking to reporters, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh, Head of the Communications Department (Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance), said that the way Nguyen Van Luong Secondary School disseminated information and mobilized support was very practical, effective, and humane. She added that if this approach were replicated during school holidays and anniversaries, it would certainly have a positive effect, helping disadvantaged students obtain health insurance cards for protection.

“The Board of Directors of the Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance Agency is very interested in and acknowledges this positive and innovative approach of the school. According to the plan, on the morning of November 20th, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance Agency, Tran Dung Ha, will lead a delegation to visit and congratulate the school on Vietnamese Teachers' Day; and present a Certificate of Commendation to Nguyen Van Luong Secondary School and to Principal Dinh Phu Cuong personally to recognize their joint efforts in contributing to social welfare. In addition, on this occasion, the Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance Agency will allocate funds from the Fund for the Poor (contributed by the agency's staff) to award scholarships to underprivileged students here,” Ms. Hong Hanh informed.

Regarding the open letter from To Hieu Primary School in Buon Ma Thuot City, Mr. Ta Duc Hau, Deputy Director of the Social Insurance Department of Dak Lak province, shared: "This is truly a very meaningful and humane act by the teachers. This shows concern for students from disadvantaged families who cannot afford health insurance. At the same time, it has a ripple effect, encouraging everyone in society to join hands in caring for and ensuring the health of the younger generation."

According to Mr. Hau, the open letter and message expressing the desire to "exchange" flowers and gifts for health insurance cards for poor students has not only been shared within To Hieu Primary School, but also by many teachers in other schools throughout Dak Lak province in recent days. This shows a very clear effect and will certainly continue to spread, creating a humane message that helps many students in the area obtain health insurance cards.

“After the Provincial Social Insurance Board of Directors reached a quick consensus, on November 20th, representatives from the Dak Lak Provincial Social Insurance will visit, encourage, and present Certificates of Commendation to the collective of To Hieu Primary School and to Principal Doan Thi Tuyet Yen. In addition, the Provincial Social Insurance will donate 2 million VND from contributions by staff and teachers to the school to purchase health insurance cards for disadvantaged students,” Mr. Ta Duc Hau happily shared.

Meanwhile, according to Mr. Hoang Thanh Nam, Deputy Director of Communications (Lan Toa Co., Ltd., Ho Chi Minh City), on special occasions like November 20th or the school's founding anniversary, many businesses, partners, and parents often give schools many flower arrangements, which are very formal and wasteful. In contrast, health insurance cards are essential for students and provide peace of mind for parents. "For students from disadvantaged backgrounds, providing health insurance cards will alleviate some of the financial burden on parents. Therefore, the school's proposal to 'exchange' health insurance cards for flowers is a very practical action and should be replicated in many schools and on many other occasions," Mr. Nam shared.

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/quy-doi-hoa-qua-thanh-the-bhyt-tang-hoc-sinh-cach-lam-thiet-thuc-can-nhan-rong-post277533.html