HSBC Vietnam And VinaCapital Foundation Handover Clean Water System To Ly Son Islands, Quang Ngai Province

On 30^th September 2020, HSBC Vietnam and The VinaCapital Foundation handover a clean water system to Ly Son Military Medical Center on Ly Son Islands as part of HSBC’s relief program to support Vietnam in the fight against COVID-19.

The Clean Water System – a program implemented by the Critical Response Program of the VinaCapital Foundation in collaboration with HSBC – installs a water filtration system in Ly Son Military Medical Center to improve access to potable water and the quality of life for the population. The filtered water has been tested and will be usable for direct drinking and medical purposes. 300-500 people will benefit from this system each day.

Research has shown that Ly Son islands have been experiencing a serious shortage of fresh water, and the underground water in the Islands has become seriously salinized. It is critical to find a solution for Ly Son islands’ fresh water shortage, which is fundamental to its agriculture and the population’s health, especially to protect children and patients’ lives in its health center.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan – Critical Response Program Manager, The VinaCapital Foundation (left), and Mr. Phan Thanh Tan – Deputy Director, Ly Son Military Medical Center

Representing the main sponsor of the project, Tim Evans, CEO of HSBC Vietnam, said: “It is our honor to be able to contribute to this meaningful project which will bring substantial benefits to Ly Son’s children and patients, especially protecting them during the current pandemic. Cooperating with our long-term and committed partner, The VinaCapital Foundation, we believe that the value of this water filtration system will have lasting benefits for the community. Since being established in Vietnam over 150 years ago, HSBC has always been consistent in our commitment to support the communities in which we operate.”

Mr. Rad Kivette, The VinaCapital Foundation’s CEO, also shared: “Clean water is essential to everyone’s health, especially to children and patients treated at hospitals and health centers in rural areas. It is even more precious and fundamental to people living on islands like Ly Son. With the help of HSBC Vietnam, The VinaCapital Foundation is able to fulfill our commitment to provide quality public health care for everyone regardless of location or situation. This program will protect people during the pandemic and empower them to have a better future.”

 Mr. Phan Thanh Tan – Deputy Director, Ly Son Military Medical Center (third person from the left), Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan – Critical Response Program Manager, The VinaCapital Foundation (fourth person from the left), Mr. Le Van Ninh – Vice President, Ly Son People’s Committee (third person from the right) and officials drink filtered water from the system

In April, HSBC Vietnam announced its program of VND3 billion to support the most vulnerable groups in Vietnam who are adversely impacted by COVID-19. Not only providing immediate support, but the program also aims at building resilience and preparedness for these groups of people for any similar crisis in the future, creating a positive long-term impact on the community.

The VinaCapital Foundation has been working with HSBC on one of the three branches of the HSBC program, which is a long-term project with a total value of nearly VND900 million that will install clean water filtration systems for public hospitals in remote communes. In addition, it will set up training on the need for clean water for local people, and provide economic recovery to the people in need. The program is expected to last for 1 year, starting from June 2020. Provinces that benefited from the clean water systems project are Ha Giang, Dak Lak, and Quang Ngai with 3 hospitals in rural areas.

The installation of the filtration systems will help reduce water-borne diseases including COVID-19, slow the spread of this highly contagious disease, and improve the health outcomes for healthcare professionals, patients, and their families.

Clean Water Filtration System in Ly Son

For more than 7 years, HSBC Vietnam has been an important partner of the VinaCapital Foundation in health and education projects. The bank financed the installation of clean water systems for 10 hospitals and health centers in Bac Kan, Ninh Thuan, Dong Thap, Binh Thuan, Tra Vinh, and Yen Bai.