Letter from the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dai Nam University to staff and employees during the Covid-19 pandemic

Hanoi, March 26, 2020

Dear all officers, lecturers and staff of Dai Nam University!

We are going through particularly difficult days in human history. From a few cases of strange pneumonia discovered in Wuhan - China, the Covid -19 pandemic has spread to 197 countries and territories with 422,878 infections and 18,903 deaths (data updated to March 25).

Not only disrupting daily life, causing confusion and anxiety in public opinion, the pandemic is and will continue to bring about mounting difficulties to the economy - politics - society of countries and territories with Covid-19, including our Vietnam.

A recent survey conducted by the Private Economic Development Research Board (Board IV) shows that 39% of businesses have had to resort to temporary measures to cut labor and reduce salaries and bonuses; 74% of businesses are at risk of bankruptcy if the epidemic lasts for 6 months. Most industries have been severely affected by the Covid-19 epidemic. Especially the fields of: Tourism, real estate, finance, education, import-export, agriculture, transportation services - aviation, textiles, footwear, wood products manufacturing... Vietnam is and will have to continue to bear the heavy devastation of the pandemic, which is likened to an unprecedented war taking place all over the world.

Dear teachers!

In the fight against Covid-19 in Vietnam, many organizations, businesses, and individuals have initiated the compassionate Buddha's mind to share the difficulties of the epidemic area and patients with love. The Vietnamese medical team has sacrificed themselves to care for patients and protect their fellow human beings...

Within its capacity, Dai Nam University has approved 2 billion VND for the staff and lecturers of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the school to mix dry hand sanitizer gel according to the WHO formula to provide to the staff and lecturers of the school; residential areas; administrative agencies and high schools in need in Hanoi. The school has also registered with the city's Epidemic Prevention Committee to be ready to reserve the school's dormitory and a 3-star hotel in Hanoi as a quarantine facility for people returning from epidemic areas when Hanoi City needs to requisition them.

Within the DNU family, since the Covid-19 pandemic until today, we have shared each mask, each bottle of hand sanitizer gel, and shared food... In particular, many staff and lecturers are willing to take unpaid leave or proactively ask for a 50% salary reduction to share the difficulties with the school (typically, teacher - Pharmacist CKI Nguyen Trung Kham - Faculty of Pharmacy, voluntarily reduced his salary by 50% to share the difficulties with the school). We have been doing everything we can to help the people of the whole country get through the suffocating and difficult days of this pandemic.

Although our students cannot go to school yet, I believe that teachers in specialized faculties and service staff in related departments are making every effort to update Dai Nam students with the necessary knowledge for this semester without going to school by the best online learning method.

In times of trouble, we understand each other. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to send my deepest gratitude to all the lecturers and staff of Dai Nam - the people who, in the difficult times of society, have shown compassion, love, sharing, and sympathy for the organization and society. DNU is always warm with humanity like a family. Each individual is ready to throw themselves into considering the common work as their own to complete it with the highest love and responsibility.

Dear teachers!

Many people ask me, if the epidemic lasts long, will Dai Nam face difficulties? In the worst case, will Dai Nam consider cutting staff and reducing salaries of staff, lecturers and employees in the school?

If the epidemic continues, Dai Nam will certainly not be immune to the impact. The school year plan, enrollment plan, scientific research activities, international training cooperation, business linkages, etc. will be seriously affected. However, the school's Board of Directors is still committed to ensuring full and timely payment of all material benefits to all staff, lecturers and employees as it has always done. No matter how difficult the Covid-19 pandemic is, Dai Nam always unites all members together on the basis of love and sharing. Where there is love - there is strength. With the strength of love, our Dai Nam will certainly overcome this Covid-19 pandemic with the whole country.

Every pandemic will end. Now is the time for cadres, lecturers, especially young cadres and lecturers, to actively use the waiting time to enrich their knowledge and improve their professional skills; take advantage of the time to restore their physical and mental health so that when the pandemic ends, they will have a new, stronger and more determined bounce.

Let's not consider the virus as a killer, but as a "messenger" from the Creator of the universe sending a warning to all of humanity, helping people to awaken. People awaken to change their current approach to life, which leads to the destruction of the natural environment and social morality. People awaken to slow down, to prolong the good days of humanity. People awaken to clearly see that "work to live, eat to live, not live to eat and enjoy"...

Wishing all officers, lecturers and staff of Dai Nam University to always be optimistic, happy, do well in their work and epidemic prevention work.

Friendly!

Le Dac Son – Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dai Nam University