Support for Agent Orange victims

The war has ended, but the pain of Agent Orange still lingers in many families. Understanding and sharing that pain, in recent years, the Provincial Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (AO/Dioxin) has carried out many practical activities to support victims in especially difficult circumstances, helping them overcome the pain and rise up in life.

On the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of Agent Orange Disaster Day in Vietnam (August 10, 1961 - August 10, 2024), Phu Tho Newspaper reporter had an interview with Mr. Bui Quang Vinh - Chairman of the Provincial Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin about the results of activities to support, help and care for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in the province in recent times.

Leaders of the Provincial Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin visited and presented gifts to the family of victim Tran Van Lap in Ha Thach commune, Phu Tho town.

Reporter: Could you tell us about the general situation of Agent Orange victims in our province?

Mr. Bui Quang Vinh: During the resistance war against the US to save the country, Phu Tho province had more than 17,000 resistance fighters and their children infected or suspected of being exposed to Agent Orange/Dioxin used by the US during the war in Vietnam, of which more than 10,000 people received monthly Agent Orange subsidies.

As of May 2024, the whole province only has 5,765 people receiving benefits, including 3,504 victims who directly participated in the resistance war against the US to save the country, belonging to the category of people with merit (F1) and 2,261 victims who are children of people who participated in the resistance war against the US (F2), 1,107 households have from 2 to 5 victims.

To raise social awareness of the dangerous nature and long-term consequences of the Agent Orange disaster on the environment and people of Vietnam, and actively support the victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, the Provincial Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin has closely followed Directive No. 43-CT/TW, dated May 14, 2015 of the Central Party Secretariat (11th tenure), Directive 27-CT/TU, dated July 20, 2015 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on "Strengthening the Party's leadership in resolving the consequences of toxic chemicals used by the US during the war in Vietnam"; the Provincial People's Committee issued an Action Plan to implement the overcoming of the consequences of toxic chemicals used by the US during the war in Vietnam in Phu Tho province, and at the same time, consolidated the Steering Committee for implementing the Ordinance on preferential treatment for people with meritorious services, and reviewed preferential policies for people with meritorious services.

The Fatherland Front Committee, unions, departments, branches, sectors, and authorities at all levels in the province have all joined in and implemented the work for each cadre, party member, association member, and citizen. Since then, the awareness, responsibility, and leadership of the Party Committees and authorities at all levels in supporting, caring for, and encouraging victims directly and indirectly affected by Agent Orange have been enhanced.

Reporter: Can you summarize the effectiveness of the activities of the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin at all levels in recent times?

Mr. Bui Quang Vinh: On November 10, 2006, the Phu Tho Province Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin was established. Although initially facing many difficulties, under the close leadership of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee, the Party Committees, the People's Committees at district and grassroots levels, along with the regular professional guidance of the Central Association, the consensus and facilitation of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, sectors and levels, by October 2012, 13/13 districts, cities and towns had established district-level Associations. In 2014, 100% of communes, wards and towns that met the conditions had established branches, attracting more than 6,000 members. The Provincial Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin has a synchronous organizational system from the province to the grassroots communes, wards and towns.

Through its activities, the Association has signed coordination programs with the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Provincial Veterans Association, the Provincial Youth Union, Phu Tho Newspaper, the Provincial Radio and Television Station, the Provincial Party Committee of the Provincial Agencies, and the Provincial Business Party Committee to propagate, mobilize, and implement the Party's policies and the State's laws on resolving the consequences of toxic chemicals used by the US Army during the war in Vietnam.

With the motto "Innovation, towards the grassroots, towards the victims", the Provincial Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin has launched and promoted the emulation movement for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin associated with the action movement for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin launched by the Vietnam Fatherland Front. Activities and work to mobilize resources to care for and help Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin have been promoted, especially on the occasion of the Day for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (August 10), Tet for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, sending charity messages for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin...

From 2006 to present, there have been 458 groups and individuals, of which 246 groups and 212 individuals have been honored and received Certificates of Merit and Golden Hearts from the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee and Certificates of Merit from competent authorities in the province and district.

Typical agencies and units are: Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, Provincial People's Committee Office, Department of Home Affairs, Department of Finance, Provincial Military Command, Phu Tho Newspaper, Provincial Radio and Television Station, Tan Lap Prison, Provincial Party Committee of Provincial Agencies, Hung Vuong University, Vietnam Paper Corporation, Phu Tho Telecommunications, Lam Thao Super Phosphate and Chemical Joint Stock Company, Ao Vua Joint Stock Company, Phu Tho Water Supply Joint Stock Company, Viet Tri Chemical Joint Stock Company, Provincial General Hospital, Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development, Phu Tho Branch, Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade, Phu Tho Branch...

Agent Orange/Dioxin victim Nguyen Van Thang and his wife, Ha Hoa town, Ha Hoa district, take care of their son affected by Agent Orange/Dioxin.

Reporter: Could you please tell us about the results of the work of caring for and helping victims of Agent Orange in our province?

Mr. Bui Quang Vinh: From the beginning of the term to July 2024, the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin at all levels in the province has received nearly 3.7 billion VND in cash and converted goods from Party committees, authorities, sectors, agencies, enterprises, and benefactors inside and outside the province, and presented over 9,400 gifts to the victims with a total value of over 3 billion VND. In addition, the Association at all levels also mobilized agencies, units, enterprises, and benefactors to join hands to care for, help, and support the families of the victims with many goods such as beds, wheelchairs, free medical examination and treatment, necessities, etc.

Many members of the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin have promoted the tradition of “Uncle Ho’s soldiers”, overcoming difficulties, improving their lives, and exemplary in participating in local labor emulation movements. Up to now, the Association has dozens of households with good economic performance, helping many children of victims and local people to have stable jobs.

In the new rural construction movement, dozens of families of Agent Orange victims in Cam Khe, Yen Lap, Thanh Son, Ha Hoa districts... donated thousands of square meters of land, many working days and money to build roads, cultural houses in residential areas, contributing to the implementation of socio-economic development goals in the locality.

Reporter: What are the future directions and tasks of the Association's work, sir?

Mr. Bui Quang Vinh: In order to better care for, assist and support AO/Dioxin victims, the Association at all levels continues to thoroughly grasp and advise the Party Committees and authorities to direct the effective implementation of Directive 43-CT/W, dated May 14, 2015 of the Central Party Secretariat, Directive 27-CT/TU, dated July 20, 2015 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and the Provincial People's Committee's Plan on overcoming the consequences of toxic chemicals in the area, along with other directives of the Party and State on AO/Dioxin victims.

Continue to take advantage of the leadership and direction of Party committees and authorities, the support and facilitation of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, departments, branches, sectors, unions and mass organizations to effectively perform the functions and tasks of the Association, contributing to strengthening the great national unity bloc, ensuring national defense, security and socio-economic development in the locality. At the same time, maintain the emulation movements of the Association well in conjunction with local emulation movements; focus on building and consolidating a strong Association organization; take care to build and improve the quality of the Association's staff at all levels.

The Provincial Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin hopes that Party committees at all levels, authorities, sectors and organizations will continue to pay more attention to Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin so that the victims will continue to receive sharing and joint support from the community to contribute to compensating for losses and disadvantages, bringing joy, supporting members and victims to overcome difficulties, improve their lives and integrate into the community.

Linh Nguyen (Implementation)

Source: https://baophutho.vn/diem-tua-cho-nan-nhan-chat-doc-da-cam-216825.htm