Accompanying Agent Orange victims

Over the years, the Ninh Binh Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin has always actively cared for the material and spiritual lives of its members. Through its responsibility and concrete actions, the Association has affirmed its core role in mobilizing resources to care for those in difficult circumstances due to the pain of Agent Orange.

The family of victim Nguyen Luong Bang in Giao Binh commune received gifts from the local Association of Agent Orange Victims.

The entire Ninh Binh province currently has over 19 thousand victims of Agent Orange/dioxin who are receiving state benefits. Most of the victims are relatively old and in poor health. Many families have children and grandchildren with deformities or disabilities, unable to take care of themselves or perform daily activities independently.

To encourage and help the victims, the Association has gathered, united, and had many programs to help Agent Orange victims overcome difficulties, promote their own abilities to participate in social activities, and integrate into the community. At the same time, there are regular activities to protect the rights and legitimate interests of Agent Orange victims, support each other in life so that all members can have a happy, healthy life, and live a useful life for themselves, their families, and society.

Every year, the Association has organized and mobilized people from all walks of life to promote the tradition of "When drinking water, remember its source", "Love others as you love yourself" and join hands with the whole country to ease the pain of Agent Orange, help victims materially and spiritually, and actively contribute to sustainable poverty reduction to help them overcome difficulties in life.

In particular, the Association has well implemented Directive No. 43-CT/TW of the Central Party Secretariat (11th tenure) on "On strengthening the Party's leadership in dealing with the consequences of toxic chemicals during the war in Vietnam". Party committees, authorities, the Fatherland Front and political and social organizations have had positive policies and measures, suitable to the characteristics of each locality, to care for and help victims of Agent Orange, contributing to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of members. Up to now, the whole province has no backlog of records. Those who have sufficient records according to regulations are considered for benefits quickly, promptly, and in accordance with the regime, without any complaints.

Veteran Nguyen Van Bong, an Agent Orange victim in Hai Quang commune, is a typical example in participating in local movements.

In 2024, the whole province mobilized a total value of over 40.6 billion VND in cash to encourage and help thousands of victims. The main form of support is direct assistance to victims such as: medical examination, free medicine, gifts, wheelchairs and direct money to victims. The Association also coordinates with the Red Cross to advise local Party committees and authorities to mobilize the Agent Orange Victims Support Fund and use the fund effectively and practically for Agent Orange victims. Every year, tens of thousands of victims receive gifts fromthe President and authorities at all levels on War Invalids and Martyrs Day, Day for Agent Orange Victims on August 10 and Lunar New Year. Tens of thousands of victims receive subsidies from the fund "For the poor and Agent Orange victims" and the fund "Support for Agent Orange victims". Timely and effective care and support activities help encourage victims to overcome difficulties, integrate into the community, and contribute positively to social security.

In addition, implementing the leadership and direction of Party committees and authorities at all levels, the Association has closely followed the political, economic and social security tasks and actively responded to and participated in local activities. The Association has encouraged members to strictly comply with the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, and local regulations, and actively participate in movements such as: "Movement to build new rural areas and civilized urban areas"; "Repaying gratitude", "Encouraging learning and talent", "Building a new cultural life in residential areas"... Up to now, nearly 5,000 members have been elected by all levels and sectors to positions in Party organizations, authorities, fronts and local organizations. Many members have voluntarily donated land to build local public works, contributing labor and money to build new rural areas.

With the active activities of the Provincial Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, together with the solidarity of the whole society, it has helped victims of Agent Orange to ease their pain, overcome difficulties, and erase their inferiority complex to reintegrate into the community. In order to make the care and support for victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin more effective and practical, in the coming time, all levels of the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin will continue to promote propaganda, strengthen close coordination between departments, branches, sectors, unions, and mass organizations to mobilize and call on agencies, organizations, businesses, and benefactors inside and outside the province to support the establishment of the Agent Orange Victims Fund, to join hands to ease the pain, and help victims of Agent Orange stabilize their lives.

Article and photos: Tran Hong Minh

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/dong-hanh-cung-nan-nhan-chat-doc-da-cam-360424.htm