Efforts to raise awareness of Agent Orange/ dioxin victims among community

In celebration of the Fourth Congress to honor AO/dioxin victims with outstanding achievements, a PAN’s reporter had an interview with Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Rinh, President of the Vietnamese Association of Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin (VAVA), about the results of the emulation movement “For victims of Agent Orange/ dioxin.”

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Rinh

Reporter: Could you please tell us the outstanding results of the emulation movement “For victims of Agent Orange/dioxin” over the past five years?

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Rinh: The emulation movement “For victims of Agent Orange/dioxin” in the 2016-2021 period was waged widely across the country along with the implementation of Directive 43-CT/TW of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat on strengthening the Party’s leadership in dealing with consequences of toxic chemicals used by U.S. forces during the war in Vietnam, and the Secretariat’s Directive No.39-CT/TW on strengthening the leadership of the Party over the work of people with disabilities.

Over the past five years, the movement has drawn the special attention of the Party, the State, and authorities at all levels. Therefore, the movement has become popular and has brought practical results, contributing to enhancing VAVA’s position and prestige. Thanks to the movement, VAVA has found typical collectives and individuals inside and outside the country.

Reporter: One of the major targets of the movement is grasping victims’ situations to develop appropriate policies and provide practical support. How have VAVA’s associations at all levels reached it?

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Rinh: Over the past time, VAVA Central Committee has thoroughly followed AO/dioxin victims’ situations, in collaboration with the State’s agencies, to ensure better implementation of policies for national contributors and AO/dioxin victims.

Particularly, VAVA’s associations at all levels have coordinated with and made timely recommendations to functional agencies of the Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs sector to deal with issues related to policies towards 26,700 people with meritorious services to the revolution and over 2,200 children of theirs.

Reporter: Mobilizing resources to take care of and help AO/dioxin victims is seen as a “measurement” of associations’ task performance. Can you explain in more details?

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Rinh: VAVA’s associations at all levels have proactively taken advantage of opportunities to mobilize social resources. The associations have worked with the Peace Flower Fund, the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association, enterprises, other benefactors at home and abroad to call for donations while associating with the National Humanitarian Portal 1400 to conduct fund-raising SMS campaigns for AO/dioxin victims.

At the launch of a program to support agent orange victims

In addition, the VAVA Central Committee, with the support of the Ministry of National Defense, has provided free medical examinations and medicines for nearly 4,000 victims from 17 provinces and cities nationwide, to name but a few.

The above-mentioned positive results have demonstrated VAVA’s great efforts in helping AO/dioxin victims. These achievements have become VAVA’s driving force to further promote the emulation movement in the community, raising people’s awareness of AO/dioxin victims in the time to come.

Reporter: Thank you very much!

Translated by Quynh Oanh