Ho Chi Minh City ward opens day care center for seniors

The opening ceremony on Thursday was attended by Nguyen Phuoc Loc, deputy secretary of the municipal Party Committee and chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City chapter of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee.

Nguyen Van Su, chairman of the Binh Tan Ward administration, said caring for the elderly is a consistent priority for local authorities.

The ward has coordinated with the Elderly Association and health stations to provide medical check-ups, counseling, and support for seniors in difficult circumstances.

Cultural, artistic, and fitness activities have also been organized to enhance well-being.

As Vietnam enters an aging population phase, Su underlined the need to improve care as well as to create opportunities for seniors to contribute their experience and wisdom to society.

The new center serves as both a health monitoring facility and a community space for cultural exchange, sports, and health education.

On the same day, the local youth union of the city’s Dau Tieng Commune inaugurated a new swimming pool at Dau Tieng Elementary School, funded with a VND100-million (US$3,810) grant.

The pool is part of the ‘Children’s Playground’ program jointly organized by state-run youth organizations and partners, providing safe recreational facilities and swimming lessons to prevent drowning.

In addition to the grant, local authorities contributed land and funding for surrounding fencing and will build a roof over the pool.

The school, with more than 900 students, will now offer swimming classes to equip students with water safety and drowning prevention skills.

The local youth union pledged to continue mobilizing resources for similar projects to improve living and learning environments for children.

These efforts are part of Ho Chi Minh City’s broader strategy to enhance care for its residents, especially those of vulnerable groups.

The city is also implementing a free home-based health check-up program for seniors, people with disabilities, and those unable to travel, with the goal of ensuring no one is left behind in its universal health screening program.

Recently, the city’s Department of Education and Training has proposed a subsidy of VND700,000 ($27) per student to cover swimming lessons, aiming to improve water safety skills among children and teenagers.

The proposal targets elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as learners in continuing education programs at both public and private institutions.

Each student would receive support for one swimming course of up to 16 sessions, including 15 lessons and one assessment.

The department said the subsidy would ensure equitable access to swimming lessons, reduce financial burdens on families, and support school safety and drowning prevention efforts.