Saigon Impoverished

By Francesca Peiris
Photos by Dr. Yeoh Seng Guan

 On Day Four of the trip, the students made their way to Chuong Trinh AIDS, a NGO that helps the HIV/AIDS patients of Ho Chi Minh city through multiple channels. Having ties with a number of organizations and sub-groups, we met Mr. Pham Thanh Van, the co-ordinator, whose organization liaises with community efforts to collectively come together as one and aid HIV/AIDs patients. It was into these community efforts that the students were then divided into for the day’s session. While some were assigned to visit the Pagoda’s community effort, others went to see how individual community members had taken on leadership roles to aid others within the community.

 The common thread binding all four groups is the social pandemic HIV/AIDS, showing just how ubiquitous the disease has become and how various walks of life have incorporated it into their community efforts to deal with it as effectively as possible.

This particular account has been written by a student who made house visits to community leaders of the Bin Thanh district. - Editors' Note

In the suburban area of Binh Thanh district, Ward 7, lies the peaceful and loving community of poor HIV/AIDS victims. An area built next to an upcoming high rise apartment, Ward 7 has a population of almost 1000 residents. The residents comprise of a few sub groups led by leaders of an HIV/AIDS program situated near the district. Our first home we visited was that of Ms. Ly, a strong and caring woman helps residents with low financial income who have HIV/AIDS. Ms. Ly and Ms. Loung are two respective leaders of this Ward, and are the only people in the area who are helping out the impoverished HIV/AIDS residents. Each leader has a maximum of 12 individuals. A leader is appointed for every group democratically through elections and responsibilities are handed out accordingly.

Phuong, the 22 year old daughter-in-law of Ms. Ly, is one such person who has benefited from the help. Married to Ms. Ly’s son who is also an AIDS patient, Phuong first found out she had HIV two years ago, but accepted it in the name of love and is currently under the care of Ms. Ly. Phuong works as a cleaner in a factory near the neighbourhood. She moved from the countryside of Binh Phuoc to the busy city of Ho Chi Minh and migrated from the countryside because she wanted to attain a better life. “I want to have children, just not yet,” Phuong commented, adding that she always wears a condom in order to prevent any mishaps. Ms. Ly mentioned that funds from the Government aren’t adequate enough to cover medical bills for these people.

The next home visit was a short walk away from the the first. When we arrived, we were greeted by a woman named Ms. Luong. The community leader elected to take charge of communal matters and government loans, she also makes and make life easier for those leading an impoverished life. Running a modest sundry shop right next to her home, she offers her services to community members who drop in at any hour of day. Luong sincerely wants to help those around her because she understands what it means to live in their circumstances. Luong had a husband and three sons. Now she is left with only one son- her sole pride and joy her thirty-two year old, Huy with the mind of a child. He was born disabled and it is suspected that Agent Orange may be the cause because his father served in the military for a number of years, before going missing in the 1980s. Luong's husband is thought to have attempted to enter America illegally by boat, but there is still no news of him to this very day. Luong expressed her sorrow as she described the demise of one child after the other. Apart from Huy, her disabled son, one son moved out and does not send any money back home. Her other son passed away from long-term drug use along with his wife. She was overcome with emotion when it came to this particular son. She seemed regretful that she was not always home to supervise him and he became entangled with drugs under the influence of his friends. The session took a heart-wrenching twist when Luong recounted her wish that her remaining son die before her as there realistically is nobody left to care for him when she pases away. Presenting souvenirs, we left with hardly a dry eye amongst the group.

Ms. Loung and her son Huy at their humble home in Binh Thanh.

While the Government provides a pool of 2 million dong per month to these people in form of loans, this money covers only living expenses and medical bills for those who critically need the medical aid. This becomes problematic for the people because the money is provided for a collective group, meaning that by the time the money reaches the end recipient, it hardly makes a significant difference in assisting with the finance. Moreover, as this is rendered in the form of loans (though interest rates have been waived), money can only be re-borrowed again once the old loans are repaid. Fortunately, the Government does sponsor free health checkups to all HIV/AIDS patients each month. Most medical supplies are given to HIV/AIDS victims at a subsidized cost by the government. Ms. Ly receives additional funding from a friend. According to sources, 57% of HIV/AIDS victims in Vietnam contract the virus from the usage of heroin, and the other 43% from unprotected sex. This percentage gap is slowly closing as the Government has started crackdowns on the heroin selling syndicates, thereby causing prices to rise. Rehab schools are also available to those who suffer from drug withdrawal.

In conclusion, the people of Binh Thanh District, Ward 7 live a harsh life. Today, the common people in Binh Thanh are at peace with this group and life is a  little easier for them.

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Francesca Anna Peris, 22, currently an undergraduate at Monash Malaysia, pursuing a Communications major. Her favorite quote: 

‘Beauty itself is but the sensible image of the Infinite’ - Francis Bacon.