Supporting Agent Orange victims and people with disabilities

Ms. Trinh Thi Le Hoa - President of the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in My Tu district said: "Through the review work, we know that in the area there are many disabled people and victims of Agent Orange in very difficult circumstances. Therefore, we coordinate with communes and towns in the district to increase material support, help them reduce disadvantages and have a more stable life."

The leader of the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in My Tu District ( Soc Trang ) (second from left) received an award for his outstanding achievements in performing his duties. Photo: XUAN HUONG

In 2024, the district's associations will focus on coordinating and mobilizing benefactors, philanthropists, and Buddhists from pagodas to donate money, gifts, wheelchairs, scholarships, etc. to support the care of victims in the area, with a total value of over 4.3 billion VND. At the same time, the Provincial and District Associations will support livelihood capital for 45 Agent Orange victims with an amount of 188 million VND. The Association also coordinates with organizations and volunteer groups to organize free medical examinations, provide medicine, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and burial for 1,783 Agent Orange victims and those with disabilities, worth nearly 380 million VND.

Particularly since the beginning of the year, the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in My Tu district has launched the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Hung Phu and My Phuoc communes to establish 3 mutual capital contribution groups and 2 charity rice groups with 32 members participating. Through that, 15.3 million VND has been contributed, 60 kg of rice is contributed each month to support victims in difficult circumstances in the locality. In addition, localities have also effectively implemented the model of Supporting Home Care for Victims. During the Lunar New Year 2025, the District Association, communes and towns coordinated with relevant sectors to mobilize benefactors to visit and support seriously ill victims at home, and gave gifts to 49 severely disabled victims with a total amount of over 117 million VND.

It can be said that thanks to the support and assistance of the Association at all levels, Agent Orange victims and people with disabilities are motivated both physically and mentally to overcome difficulties and rise up in life. A typical example is Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhan in Phuong Hoa 1 Hamlet, Hung Phu Commune. Born in 1985, Ms. Nhan herself is disabled due to the effects of toxic chemicals, which caused her to have muscle atrophy, legs, arms, and a curved spine since birth. Her father was infected with toxic chemicals and passed away. Although Ms. Nhan is now disabled, she has to struggle to find a way to make a living to take care of herself and her mother who is over 80 years old. Therefore, she wishes to have a suitable job, to have a stable income to cover daily living expenses, and to support her mother when she is sick.

Agent Orange/dioxin victims' associations at all levels in My Tu district (Soc Trang) are interested in supporting Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhan (Agent Orange victim) with means and capital to earn a living. Photo: XUAN HUONG

Understanding her needs and wishes, the Association of Agent Orange/dioxin Victims in My Tu district and Hung Phu commune mobilized benefactors to support an electric scooter worth 15 million VND to make it easier for her to travel; at the same time, support her with a living capital of 5 million VND to buy a sewing machine to learn sewing as a means of livelihood. Ms. Nhan confided: “Since the uncles and aunts supported the means, I have been sewing carpets at home to sell to small traders at the commune market; taking advantage of my free time to sell lottery tickets. I am very grateful to the uncles and aunts for supporting me to have a means of working to earn a living, although not much, but enough to cover my daily living expenses, no longer in a precarious situation like before. My wish is to save up a little capital, open a vegetable stall, and not have to move out much because my health is getting worse.”

Promoting the achieved results, My Tu District Association will continue to fulfill its assigned tasks. In particular, promoting the dissemination of directives and resolutions on the work of resolving the consequences of toxic chemicals used by the US during the war in Vietnam to grassroots communes and towns. Cooperating with units to promote the study and following of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle among cadres and members; actively mobilizing members and people to participate in building new rural areas; sustainable poverty reduction. Launching and effectively implementing the emulation movement for Agent Orange victims in 2025. In particular, all levels of the association will strengthen the mobilization of charitable organizations, religions, and benefactors inside and outside the locality to support money, gifts, rehabilitation equipment, housing, etc. to help poor and disadvantaged victims and disabled people stabilize their lives.

With its efforts, especially practical activities for victims of Agent Orange and people with disabilities, the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in My Tu district is regularly recognized and rewarded by superiors. In 2023, the association received a certificate of merit from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for its outstanding achievements in performing its tasks.

SPRING FRAGRANCE

Source: https://baosoctrang.org.vn/huyen-my-tu/202503/tiep-suc-cung-nan-nhan-chat-doc-da-cam-nguoi-khuet-tat-8db0866/