The war is long over, but the pain of Agent Orange still lingers in many families. Understanding and sharing that pain, over the years, the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in the province has carried out many practical activities to support victims with particularly difficult circumstances, helping them overcome their pain and rise up in life.
On the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the Agent Orange disaster in Vietnam (August 10, 1961 - August 10, 2024), a reporter from Phu Tho Newspaper had an interview with Mr. Bui Quang Vinh - Chairman of the Association of Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims of Phu Tho Province - about the results of activities to support, assist, and care for Agent Orange victims in the province over the past period.
Leaders of the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in the province visited and presented gifts to the family of victim Tran Van Lap in Ha Thach commune, Phu Tho town.
Reporter: Could you please tell us about the general situation regarding 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 people who participated in the resistance and their children who were infected or suspected of being exposed to Agent Orange/Dioxin used by the US in the war in Vietnam, of which over 10,000 people have received monthly Agent Orange allowances.
As of May 2024, the entire province only had 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 meritorious people (F1), and 2,261 victims who are the children of those who participated in the resistance war against the US (F2), and 1,107 households with 2 to 5 victims.
To raise public awareness of the dangerous nature and long-term consequences of Agent Orange on the environment and people of Vietnam, and to actively support Agent Orange victims, the Provincial Association of Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims has closely followed Directive No. 43-CT/TW, dated May 14, 2015, of the Central Party Secretariat (11th term), and Directive 27-CT/TU, dated July 20, 2015, of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on "Strengthening the Party's leadership in addressing the consequences of chemical toxins used by the US in the war in Vietnam"; the Provincial People's Committee issued an Action Plan to implement measures to overcome the consequences of chemical toxins used by the US in the war in Vietnam in Phu Tho province, while also consolidating the Steering Committee for the implementation of the Ordinance on Preferential Treatment for Meritorious People and reviewing preferential policies for meritorious people.
The Fatherland Front Committee, mass organizations, departments, agencies, and all levels of government in the province have joined in, implementing the program down to every official, Party member, association member, and citizen. As a result, the awareness and responsibility of 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: Could you summarize the effectiveness of the activities of the Associations of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin at all levels in the past period?
Mr. Bui Quang Vinh: On November 10, 2006, the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Phu Tho province was established. Although initially facing many difficulties, under the close leadership of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee, the Party Committees and People's Committees at the district and grassroots levels, along with the regular professional guidance of the Central Association, and the consensus and support of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, various sectors, and levels, by October 2012, all 13 districts, cities, and towns had established district-level associations. In 2014, 100% of eligible communes, wards, and towns had established branches, attracting more than 6,000 members. The Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Phu Tho province has a synchronized organizational system from the provincial level to the grassroots level of communes, wards, and towns.
Through its activities, the Association has signed cooperation programs with the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the Provincial Veterans Association, the Provincial Youth Union, Phu Tho Newspaper, the Provincial Radio and Television Station, the Party Committee of the Provincial Agencies Bloc, and the Party Committee of the Provincial Enterprises Bloc to disseminate, mobilize, and implement the Party's guidelines and policies and the State's laws on addressing the consequences of chemical toxins used by the US Army during the war in Vietnam.
With the motto "Innovation, grassroots focus, and support for victims," the Provincial Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin has launched and promoted emulation movements for Agent Orange victims, linked to the action movement for Agent Orange victims initiated by the Vietnam Fatherland Front. Activities and resource mobilization efforts to care for and assist Agent Orange victims have been intensified, especially during the Day for Agent Orange Victims (August 10th), Tet for Agent Orange Victims, and charitable text messaging for Agent Orange victims...
From 2006 to the present, 458 collectives and individuals have been honored, including 246 collectives and 212 individuals who have 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 Commendation from competent authorities at the provincial and district levels.
Notable examples include the following agencies and units: the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, the Provincial People's Committee Office, the Department of Internal Affairs, the Department of Finance, the Provincial Military Command, Phu Tho Newspaper, the Provincial Radio and Television Station, Tan Lap Prison, the Party Committee of the Provincial Agencies Bloc, Hung Vuong University, Vietnam Paper Corporation, Phu Tho Telecommunications, Lam Thao Superphosphate and Chemical Joint Stock Company, Ao Vua Joint Stock Company, Phu Tho Water Supply Joint Stock Company, Viet Tri Chemical Joint Stock Company, the Provincial General Hospital, the Vietnam Investment and Development Bank (BIDV) Phu Tho Branch, and the Vietnam Industrial and Commercial Bank (Vietinbank) Phu Tho Branch...
The couple, Nguyen Van Thang and his wife, from Ha Hoa town, Ha Hoa district, are caring for their son who is affected by Agent Orange/Dioxin.
Reporter: Could you please tell us about the results of the care and assistance provided to victims of Agent Orange in our province?
Mr. Bui Quang Vinh: From the beginning of the term until 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 in-kind donations from Party committees, government agencies, sectors, businesses, and philanthropists inside and outside the province, and distributed over 9,400 gifts to victims with a total value of over 3 billion VND. In addition, the Association has also mobilized agencies, units, businesses, and philanthropists to join hands in caring for, helping, and supporting victim families with many items such as beds, wheelchairs, free medical examinations and treatment, and essential supplies...
Many members of the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Disease Upholding the tradition of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers," overcoming difficulties, striving for a better life, and setting an example in participating in labor and production emulation movements in their localities. To date, the Association has dozens of families who have become successful entrepreneurs, helping many children of victims and the local community find stable jobs.
In the movement to build new rural areas, dozens of families of Agent Orange victims in the districts of Cam Khe, Yen Lap, Thanh Son, Ha Hoa, etc., have donated thousands of square meters of land, many days of labor, and money to build roads and community cultural centers, contributing to the achievement of socio-economic development goals in the locality.
Reporter: What are the future directions and tasks for the Association's work, sir?
Mr. Bui Quang Vinh: In order to further improve the work of caring for and assisting victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, the Association at all levels will continue to thoroughly understand and advise the Party committees and authorities to effectively implement 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 chemical toxins in the area, along with other guiding documents of the Party and State on Agent Orange/Dioxin victims.
Continuing to leverage the leadership and guidance of Party committees and government authorities, and the support and facilitation of the Fatherland Front Committee, departments, agencies, mass organizations, and associations, the Association will effectively fulfill its functions and tasks, contributing to consolidating national unity, ensuring national defense and security, and promoting socio-economic development in the locality. Simultaneously, it will maintain the Association's emulation movements in conjunction with local emulation movements; focus on building and strengthening the Association's organization; and prioritize the development and improvement of the quality of Association officials at all levels.
The Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in the province hopes that Party committees, government agencies, and mass organizations at all levels will continue to pay more attention to Agent Orange victims so that they can continue to receive the sharing and support of the community to help compensate for their losses and disadvantages, bring joy, and support members and victims in overcoming difficulties, rising up in life, and integrating into the community.
Linh Nguyen (Editor)
Source: https://baophutho.vn/diem-tua-cho-nan-nhan-chat-doc-da-cam-216825.htm
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