Ms. Nguyen Thuy Anh described the development of Danang, its successful citizenparticipation in welfare projects, and an Action Plan to improve housing for the poor of the city.

1. The City

Danang is located in central Vietnam, covering an area of 1,256 km2 . It is the largest transport hub in the region, with a sea port and international airport. The city is divided into six urban districts and two suburban districts with 56 wards and communities. In April 2009, the population of Danang was 887,000. The natural population growth rate from 1999-2009 averaged at 2.6%, and at present, there are around 70,000 people over 60, which counts for 9.6% of the population of the city. 

The Han River Bridge, leading to Danang

Danang is currently experiencing rapid urbanization. The proportion of urban dwellers in 1999 was 78.6%, and this had increased to 86.9% by 2009. Alongside urbanization and modernization, the city's economy has developed dramatically, and living conditions have been much improved, raising the life expectancy of citizens. In conjunction with economic investment, Danang has been implementing population and family planning programmes, and its working population is now greater than its dependent population. 

A number of challenges are negatively affecting the sustainable development of the city. The percentage of elderly is expected to rise, which will be a challenge to the insurance system. Increased immigration and high birth-rates mean a population density 15 times the average national rate, and dramatic industrial and tourism growth have increased the amount of solid waste and wastewater in the city. As such, many water sources are polluted, affecting the environment and ecology, as well as people's health, and air and noise pollution are also increasing. 

In addition to increased environmental protection, maternal and child health care is also a priority in Danang. All under-6-year-old children receive free medical services in state medical centers. Members of poor households (including women and children), and those receiving social support all have medical insurance. The city is also mobilizing many organizations and individuals to contribute to the construction of a new Women's Hospital, which will provide free medical care for poor female cancer patients. Every year, 99% of children under one year-old are vaccinated with 6 basic types of vaccines. The rate of maternal death is slow and decreasing (from 33.34/100,000 in 2004 to 15.4/100,000 in 2007), the rate of malnourished children under 5 years-old decreased from 21.6% in 2004 to 12.9% in 2007, and the rate of deaths of children under 5 years-old also decreased from 8.1%o in 2004 to 2.55%o in 2007.

The city's current socio-economic achievements are thanks to the active involvement of the community. Programes and activities such as "all unite to develop a cultural and civilized lifestyle in the residential area", "5 No's" (to hunger, illiteracy, begging, murder for robbery, and drug-addicts in the community) and "3 Yeses" (to houses, jobs and a civilized way of living), blood donation campaigns, and green and clean activities, have attracted much citizen-participation. Together with local authorities, groups and NGOs, citizens have helped the underprivileged elderly and children, supported each other in case of natural disasters, provided care to the disabled, and joined environmental protection projects. For many years, the city has also developed a great number of projects to support disabled employment, improve health care, prevent children from accidents, and build houses for the poor. These projects and plans have also contributed to the improvement of living conditions for people, especially the poor and the disabled. 

The Department of Labor, Invalids and Social affairs is the state management agency which takes care of the elderly. Additionally, the Danang Association for the Elderly is managing 683 union branches and 2,270 union groups in 56 communities. Most of the elderly in the city join these branches or groups in their local communities, which have 55,000 members, or 78% of the elderly population. In recent years, the association has been encouraging old people to continue to develop their intelligence, experience and abilities, as well as to maintain their health to improve their quality of life. The active participation of the elderly in the community is encouraged, and a large number have been contributing to the development of the city through political, economic, scientific and educational projects. The city government financially supports older citizens who are living alone, homeless, over 85 and without pension, over 90, homeless or handicapped. There is an elderly health center providing care services to 900 people each month, and the elderly poor are granted medical insurance cards for free. Sports and activity clubs for the elderly are also promoted citywide.

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2. The Proposed Action Plan

The Action Plan made by Ms. Nguyen Thuy Anh is for a project to provide housing to the poorest citizens of Danang, where at present, there is a large number of The Han River Bridge, leading to Danang poor who do not have concrete homes. After relevant data assessment, the plan aims to construct 30 units in its first year of implementation, to work towards the goal of housing for all citizens. The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of the Danang People's Committee will oversee the plan, which will be funded by the government, as well as citizens and NGOs at the ward level. The plan's success will rely on the help of the mass media in disseminating information. Implementation will start in two initial pilot areas, Hôa Vang District and A Lien Chieu District, with a view to its future expansion.

Danang Action Plan Time Frame: October 2009 – January 2011

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