A delegation from Hanoi government on May 26 visited Social Protection Center 3, located at 106 Nguyen Hoang, to present gifts to children with special needs and disadvantaged backgrounds who are cared for and nurtured at the center.

The delegation was led by Vu Thu Ha, Deputy Chairwoman of the Hanoi People's Committee, and included leaders from the Hanoi Department of Health, the Social Work Center, and the Hanoi Children's Protection Fund.

The Social Protection Center 3 is tasked by the city to receive, care for, and provide rehabilitation services for elderly individuals who lack family support.

It also offers services for seniors in need of social assistance, with some contributing voluntarily to the cost of their care.

Additionally, the center is responsible for nurturing, educating, and supporting the reintegration of children without family care or those in urgent need of protection in the city.

Currently, the center cares for more than 170 individuals, including 55 elderly people – the oldest being 107 years old – and 116 children aged 0 to 16.

Among the children, 55 are under six years old, including 30 in nursery and kindergarten. Forty children are in primary school, 15 in lower secondary, and six in upper secondary school or vocational training.

During the working session with Deputy Chairwoman Ha, center director Tran Thi Hai reported on the center's efforts to care for the elderly and children, and on preparations for International Children's Day celebrations.

Upon arrival, both elderly residents and children receive health screenings and have their medical records and individual care plans prepared.

The center ensures appropriate accommodations and meals tailored to their needs and pays close attention to the emotional well-being of residents to provide the best possible care.

Children are cared for according to their age group, with specially designed nutritional plans.

The center also runs nursery and pre-primary classes for children aged three to six. School-age children attend local public schools.

A highlight of the center's program is its "godparent" model, where each staff member sponsors one child, offering extra care, emotional support, and guidance to help the children feel more loved and less isolated.

As part of the Action Month for Children, the Hanoi Department of Health, with the Population, Children and Social Evils Division, the Social Work Center, the Hanoi Children's Protection Fund, and the Hanoi Heart Hospital, have carried out free congenital heart disease screenings for the kids.

The doctors have detected two cases, and the center fully covered the cost of their heart surgeries, worth VND100 million (US$3,840) in total. The children will undergo surgery this week.

The center also organized musical performances, gift-giving, and a special celebration for International Children's Day at its two campuses.

At the center, Deputy Chairwoman Ha presented gifts from the city and other social support resources to the children with special needs and disadvantaged backgrounds. She visited each care room, speaking with staff and children.

She praised the center's efforts in maintaining clean and scientific care processes, especially for newborns and seriously ill children.

Ha commended the staff's dedication in overcoming challenges to alleviate the hardships of vulnerable lives and fulfill the city's mission.

The deputy chairwoman also acknowledged the center's proposal to expand its facility at 106 Nguyen Hoang Street.

According to Ha, this expansion would allow more space for skill development programs, vocational training, and comprehensive care, helping children develop fully and confidently integrate into society.

She also emphasized that this work contributes significantly to protecting, caring for, and educating children, especially those who are poor, disabled, orphaned, or otherwise disadvantaged, so that they can live in a safe, loving, and nurturing environment.