On the morning of April 18, the Ministry of Health coordinated with the Ministry of National Defense (National Action Center for Overcoming the Consequences of Chemical Toxic Substances and the Environment); Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Vietnam Paralympic Committee); Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and the US Embassy to organize a ceremony to celebrate Vietnam Disability Day April 18 with the theme "Breaking Bounds - Reaching Dreams - Confidently Shining" at Nguyen Hue pedestrian street.
The event was attended by more than 500 disabled athletes and their families and 800 students.
Speaking at the opening, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien Huong - Deputy Minister of Health said that practice has proven that more and more Vietnamese people with disabilities affirm themselves in studying, working, and starting a business; achieving high achievements in regional and international sports arenas; making positive contributions to the socio-economic development of the country. This is a vivid proof of the effectiveness of the correct guidelines and policies of our Party and State on people with disabilities.
In the context of the country entering a new stage of development with higher requirements for growth quality and inclusive development, the work of people with disabilities needs to continue to be concerned at a strategic level, with major orientations.
In which, reducing the number of new people with disabilities; building and perfecting policies and laws for people with disabilities shifting from "health - care" to accessing "social - integration"...
Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong - Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee said that the city affirms the responsibility of accompanying and caring for the entire political system in implementing propaganda solutions, raising social awareness about the rights of people with disabilities; strengthening solutions in caring for and supporting; creating conditions for people with disabilities to integrate into the community and have full access to development opportunities in all fields.
In which, the physical education and sports movement for people with disabilities has become a prominent highlight, contributing to improving the health, spiritual life, will to rise up and social integration ability of people with disabilities in Ho Chi Minh City.
From 10 sports with 490 disabled athletes participating in training in 2012, to date, the city has developed nearly 4,000 people with disabilities participating in regular training in 19 sports. The sports movement is increasingly expanding in scale, types and participants.
The results achieved are vivid proof of a beautiful truth: sports not only train the body but also arouse belief, will, aspiration and the ability to rise up against adversity.
Each disabled athlete is an inspiring story. Each achievement is not only the joy of individuals, families, teams but also the pride of Ho Chi Minh City and the whole country" - Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong emphasized.
At the ceremony, Mr. Le Van Cong - Vietnamese disabled athlete in weightlifting shared that disability can limit a part of the body, but it can never imprison the soul and desire to conquer of each person.
For an athlete like me, a dream is sometimes simply to surpass my own record yesterday, to see the national flag fly high in the international arena" - Mr. Cong shared.
