Spreading the movement to improve public health

Environmental pollution has become one of the greatest challenges to public health. Building a green, clean and beautiful living environment is therefore not only the responsibility of authorities at all levels, but also a shared duty of every individual, family and the entire community.

The "Exchange Waste for Gifts" program is held at Dong Nai Medical College in late June 2026. Photo: Hue Doan

Joining hands to protect the environment

At the national launch ceremony for the campaign titled "People Join Hands to Protect the Environment for a Green, Clean and Beautiful Vietnam" in June, Bui Thi Minh Hoai, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, emphasized that alongside the country's important socio-economic achievements, Vietnam continues to face major environmental challenges, including air and water pollution, increasing volumes of household solid waste, depletion of natural resources, unsafe food and the increasingly severe impacts of climate change. These issues are directly affecting public health and the nation's sustainable development.

She stressed that environmental pollution is no longer a distant threat but one that is present in people's daily meals, the air they breathe and their overall quality of life. Environmental protection, she said, must therefore become a shared responsibility of society.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee called on citizens nationwide to respond to the campaign through practical actions such as refraining from littering, reducing the use of single-use plastics, sorting waste at source, conserving electricity and water, planting trees and maintaining cleanliness in public spaces. These simple but meaningful actions help realize President Ho Chi Minh's teachings on the Patriotic Hygiene Movement, which emphasizes disease prevention and the creation of a safe, healthy living environment.

Also speaking at the launch ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung affirmed that Vietnam is working alongside the international community to address environmental challenges by promoting green growth, a circular economy and a blue economy. He called on ministries, sectors and local authorities to continue improving policies, accelerating the application of science, technology and digital transformation, while encouraging the active participation of the entire society in environmental protection.

Expanding the Patriotic Hygiene Movement

Specialist Level II Doctor Luu Van Dung, Deputy Director of the Dong Nai Department of Health, said the health sector has long maintained the Patriotic Hygiene Movement in association with disease prevention and primary healthcare. Local authorities across the city regularly organize environmental sanitation campaigns, eliminate mosquito larvae and breeding sites, and address areas at high risk of disease outbreaks. Public awareness campaigns are also conducted to encourage residents to maintain personal, household and community hygiene.

According to Nguyen Duy Tan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Tran Bien Ward, government agencies, schools, residential communities and socio-political organizations have jointly carried out a wide range of practical activities, including community clean-up campaigns, waste collection and disposal, clearing overgrown vegetation, improving public landscapes and developing bright, green, clean and beautiful streets. To ensure these movements deliver substantial results, the ward People's Committee, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and socio-political organizations have signed a joint commitment to promote a clean, green and healthy living environment for local residents.

With the same objective of promoting environmental sustainability, over the past three years the Youth Union and Students’ Association of Dong Nai Medical College have collaborated with the Dong Nai Green Community Group to organize the "Exchange Waste for Gifts" program.

According to Doan Thi Hue, Vice President of the Students’ Association of Dong Nai Medical College, the initiative has attracted strong participation from students, lecturers and staff. "Every sheet of paper, aluminum can, plastic bottle or used battery brought to the program represents a meaningful contribution to reducing plastic waste, protecting the environment and spreading a green lifestyle throughout the community," she said.

Tran Hoang Huy, a student at Nam Ha High School, shared that he has always recognized the close connection between environmental quality and human health. "The environment is where we live. If we fail to protect it, we are failing to value our own lives," Huy said. He regularly joins schoolmates in environmental clean-up campaigns and waste collection and sorting activities in public areas. At home, he keeps the house clean, disposes of waste properly and empties empties containers that can collect standing water to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and help prevent dengue fever.

"I believe that if everyone works together and consistently practices these simple actions, our living environment will remain green, clean and beautiful. That will help build Dong Nai into a civilized, modern and livable city," Huy added.

During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh attached great importance to hygiene and disease prevention. In his article Patriotic Hygiene, published in Nhan Dan newspaper on July 2, 1958, President Ho Chi Minh wrote: "Everyone, whether old or young, male or female, who loves the country must pay attention to hygiene and safeguard their health."

By Hanh Dung - Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha