Relatives and patients receiving treatment at An Giang General Hospital receive free meals from the provincial hospital's Social Humanitarian Facility. Photo: TRONG TIN
Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Hospital's Social Humanitarian Facility, said that the facility was established and developed since 1983, starting with just free hot water dispensers. Later, seeing the high costs people incurred for food and drinks while caring for relatives in the hospital for extended periods, many organizations and individuals joined hands to build the Provincial Hospital's Social Humanitarian Facility.
For over 43 years, charitable organizations and individuals from within and outside the province have contributed their efforts and resources to provide thousands of free meals, porridge, and hot water daily to patients and their relatives at An Giang General Hospital, An Giang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, An Giang Cardiology Hospital, and An Giang Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, and Dentistry Hospital. In the early days, the kitchen staff consisted of only a few members; now, there are 18 permanent members, divided into four teams: a logistics team responsible for cooking, a meal distribution team, a patient transport team, and an administrative team.
According to Mr. Thanh, members of various ages (from 38 to 76 years old) all make time to arrange their family affairs to participate in charitable work. "Most people are elderly, but they still participate in charity work very enthusiastically. This is very meaningful, and we will continue to be involved with the kitchen to help people feel secure while receiving medical treatment," Mr. Thanh shared.
While many were still asleep, the kitchen was already bustling with activity. By 4 a.m., porridge and hot water were ready to serve the patients. Afterward, the team members continued preparing rice and food for lunch, and then dinner. The work was constant, but everyone was dedicated and cheerful. Ms. Quynh Chi, a resident of Long Xuyen ward, said: “I’ve been involved with the kitchen for over 40 years. Every time I see poor patients and those in difficult circumstances receiving their meals and enjoying them, all the hardships of me and the other kitchen staff seem to disappear.”
Having volunteered to help at the charity kitchen for the past six years, Ms. Doan Thi Tuyet Hue (64 years old), residing in Long Xuyen ward, shared: “I am happy to help sick people in their difficult times. I will continue to help at the kitchen and consider this a joy in my old age.”
On average, the kitchen serves over 1,500 meals daily. Each meal always includes four dishes: soup, a braised dish, fried tofu, and fried pork ribs. The menu is changed regularly to ensure proper nutrition for the patients. These simple meals, filled with compassion, have helped many poor patients alleviate their financial burden during treatment. The staff also take turns boiling water 24/7 to serve the patients. Remarkably, the kitchen never goes out, even on holidays and Tet (Vietnamese New Year).
Every day, at two fixed times, morning and afternoon, hundreds of patients and their relatives receive free meals from the kitchen. Ms. Ngo Thi Anh Thu, a resident of Long Xuyen ward, said: "Every day, regularly at 10:00 AM and 3:30 PM, I and others are busy distributing free meals to patients or their family members receiving treatment at An Giang General Hospital."
While caring for a relative receiving treatment at An Giang General Hospital, Ms. Le Thi Nhung, residing in Vinh Hau commune, has to be extremely frugal due to her family's difficult circumstances. Therefore, for nearly two weeks, she has been coming to the kitchen to receive meals and porridge. "The food is delicious, with many dishes that change regularly, providing sufficient nutrition. I am very grateful to everyone at the kitchen...", Ms. Nhung said.
Holding a steaming lunchbox in his hand, Mr. Tran Van Thuan, a resident of Oc Eo commune, shared: “These past few days, I’ve been taking care of a sick relative. Every day I’ve been asking for free meals from the Social Humanitarian Facility of the provincial hospital. Having a place that provides free meals helps people save money and eases some of the worries during these difficult times.”
Mr. Phan Van Dung, a resident of Binh Duc ward and a member of the provincial hospital's Social Humanitarian Foundation, said: "Each meal we give away is an act of sharing. Seeing how well the people receive it gives us even more motivation to continue this charitable work."
| In 2025 alone, the provincial hospital's Social Humanitarian Facility provided over 489,800 free meals and 482,183 liters of hot and cold water to impoverished patients and their relatives. In addition, the unit also provided over 130 free patient transfers. The total cost for providing free meals, drinks, and patient transfers in 2025 exceeded 6 billion VND. |
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/cham-lo-bua-an-cho-benh-nhan-ngheo-a489784.html
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