Mobilizing resources to support livelihoods
The war has receded for more than half a century, but the sequelae of chemical toxins still affect the health and lives of many families in Vinh Long province.
According to the Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin Association, Disability Protection and Child Rights Protection of Vinh Long province, the whole province has about 11,550 Agent Orange victims, 43,000 people with disabilities and nearly 5,000 children in especially difficult circumstances.
Among them, there are 5,397 resistance activists who are victims of Agent Orange, 5,985 biological children and 171 affected children. Associations at all levels have actively mobilized socialized resources, receiving nearly 595 billion VND to care for vulnerable people.
Resources are used to build houses of gratitude, houses of great solidarity, rural traffic bridges, concrete roads; and at the same time award scholarships, wheelchairs, wheelchairs and support for heart surgery, eye surgery, and rehabilitation.
Notably, the program to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses has brought 90 meaningful homes for children of Agent Orange victims, including 40 newly built houses and 50 repaired houses.
The family of Mr. Nguyen Van Sanh, in Nhon Phu commune, was supported with 70 million VND to build a new house. In Trung Ngai commune, Mr. Cao Van Dung, son of wounded soldier rank 1/4 Cao Van Lanh, was also supported to repair his degraded house.
Repaired and newly built homes not only help families reduce the burden of housing but also create more conditions to stabilize life, feel secure in working and gradually rise up.
Take care of your health, soothe the pain
Together supporting housing and livelihoods, Vinh Long province focuses on taking care of the health of Agent Orange victims and people with meritorious services in localities. Mr. Tran Van Hoang, a veteran in Trung Ngai commune, said that medical examination near home helps to monitor health more conveniently.
To celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Agent Orange disaster in Vietnam in 2026, the Association organized a meeting and presented 200 gifts, each worth 1 million VND and in kind to disadvantaged victims in Vinh Long, Ben Tre and Tra Vinh.
Ms. Thach Thi Dep, born in 1980, in Thien My hamlet, Tra On commune, is 4 of 5 siblings suffering from Agent Orange sequelae. With weak health, she is raising her 12-year-old child with a monthly allowance.
In Tan Phu commune, Ms. Huynh Thi Ngoc Giau has a 12-year-old son with intellectual disabilities, who is being nurtured in the provincial Chemical Victim Nursing Home. The thoughtful care helps her feel more secure.
Ms. Vo Thi Thuy - Chairwoman of the Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, Disability Protection and Child Rights Protection of Vinh Long province, said that the association innovates mobilization, coordinates with sectors and localities to implement sustainable humanitarian programs, supporting vulnerable people to integrate.
Vice Chairman of Vinh Long Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Be Muoi said that she has requested sectors and localities to fully implement preferential policies, improve the quality of rehabilitation, career guidance, vocational training and create suitable jobs.
The province continues to pay attention to and care for vulnerable groups, and at the same time promote the application of science, technology and digital transformation in policy dossier management, ensuring publicity, transparency, and targeting the right people," Ms. Be Muoi added.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuan Thanh - Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Vinh Long province, caring for Agent Orange victims requires the regular joint efforts of the government, the Fatherland Front, businesses and people.
In the coming time, the Provincial Fatherland Front will continue to mobilize resources to support housing, livelihoods, health care, towards long-term programs, helping Agent Orange victims and vulnerable people have more conditions to rise up.
