“Living Clean – Smart – Green” is a community program implemented by Manulife Vietnam, a life insurance company that has been operational in Vietnam for 25 years. This initiative aims to raise public health awareness, and improve the quality of life to help people live ‘better every day.’
Raising awareness for a healthier future
Helicobacter Pylori (HP) bacteria is considered a significant cause of stomach cancer, but are people aware of the silent danger it presents? What habits can lead to HP infection? These are examples of topics Manulife Vietnam is addressing to enhance public knowledge about stomach-related diseases.
These activities are part of the “Living Clean – Smart – Green” community program, designed by Manulife to improve the health of Vietnamese people both physically and mentally, based on three criteria: Eat Clean, Live Smart and Stay Green.
Alongside activities to raise awareness about digestive health, Manulife also conducted free general health check and HP screening events for thousands of people in Hanoi and HCMC in July.
In addition, Manulife Vietnam organized seminars for customers, featuring top experts and doctors who share skills and methods for preventing stomach cancer and HP bacteria.
According to the Asia Care 2024 Survey by Manulife, which gathered responses from over 8,400 participants across Asia, stomach cancer is a leading health concern in the region. Vietnam ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest mortality rate from stomach cancer worldwide. Notably, the rate of stomach cancer in people under 40 accounts for over 20% of cases and is on the rise, according to the Vietnam Young Physicians Association.
Ms. Tina Nguyen, CEO of Manulife Vietnam, stated that this campaign was inspired by the increasing trend of stomach cancer cases among young people. The company also aims to raise awareness about preventing HP infection, one of the leading causes of stomach cancer and digestive diseases.
Mr. Nguyen Huu Tu, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Young Physicians Association, noted that the rate of HP bacterial infection in Vietnam is very high, yet there has been no effective campaign to raise public awareness about the dangers of HP bacteria. According to the Ministry of Health, up to 70% of Vietnamese people are infected with HP bacteria, and more than 80% of stomach cancer cases are linked to this infection.
Manulife hopes that the “Living Clean – Smart – Green” program will be a journey that helps everyone work toward “a better life every day.” This program promotes not only “Eat Clean” principles, such as eating cooked food, using separate utensils, using hygienic and nutritionally balanced foods, but also promotes “Live Smart” and “Stay Green” principles that encourage a balanced lifestyle focusing on physical, mental, and financial well-being and environmental protection.
Strengthening community activities
In addition to the “Living Clean – Smart – Green” program, Manulife has organized many other impactful community activities, such as sponsoring tens of thousands of free meals for students and providing computer equipment for children in remote areas.
Most recently, Manulife Vietnam donated over VND2.6 billion to support those affected by typhoon Yagi in which VND2 billion was contributed to the Vietnam Fatherland Front for immediate relief efforts. The remaining funds were used to deliver essential goods to remote communes in Yen Bai, Tuyen Quang, and Bac Giang provinces that were severely impacted by the disaster.
As the first foreign-invested life insurance company licensed to operate in Vietnam in 1999, Manulife now leads the market in terms of charter capital (over US$1 billion) and serves nearly 1.5 million customers nationwide. Over the past 25 years, Manulife Vietnam has paid over VND38,291 billion in health, medical, and maturity benefits to customers, providing critical financial support to customers during times of need.
