According to Venerable Thích Đồng Nguyện, from a consulting-room for HIV patients in Phap Bao pagoda (Go Vap district, Ho Chi Minh city) established in 2011, Phap Bao community counseling and support centre under the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations have been operated since 2014.

The centre has been providing health-care and supports for HIV patients, drug users and poor people as well as implementing programs for environment protection and climate change adaption, the Venerable informed.

In particular, Venerable Thích Đồng Nguyện offered HIV/AID information, provided psychological and spiritual support, and helped people living with HIV get medical treatment.

Over the past years, the centre has given consultation to thousands of people whose spouses are HIV-infected, organized health examination and provided medicines for HIV-infected people and counseling for drug addicts. In addition, the centre also organized Buddhist courses for addicts and people living with HIV.

In order for HIV patients to be able to live a normal life and integrate into the community, Venerable Thích Đồng Nguyện has created jobs for HIV patients such as making and selling incense sticks. He informed that he would continue looking for suitable jobs for HIV patients in the coming time. 

Besides, the centre in collaboration with Buddhist ashrams and families has persuaded local people to reduce the use of plastic products, promote waste classification, keep clean surrounding worshipping places and their houses, etc.

The centre has closely coordinated with local authorities to set up action plans on environment protection and climate change adaption for collecting bottles and providing solar water heaters for charity houses in Ho Chi Minh city, etc.

Especially, Venerable Thích Đồng Nguyện has presented reliefs to residents hit by flooding in the central provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue, etc. The Venerable has successfully raised a fund for presenting 500 boats for local residents of three provinces of Quang Binh Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue.

Presenting boats to local people affected by floods in Quang Tri province’s Trieu Phong district

As part of this charity program, in early May, 2021, Venerable Thích Đồng Nguyện and the “Loving Central provinces” charity group presented first 53boats, worth over 110 million VND to households in Quang Tri province’s Trieu Phong district. This program will be completed at the end of 2021.

With these given results, Venerable Thích Đồng Nguyện has been awarded certificates of recommendation by local authorities for his outstanding contributions in social charitable activities.

Certificate of recommendation by Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Cu Chi district presented to Venerable Thích Đồng Nguyện