Caring for victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin

​Agent Orange victims are being examined and advised on treatment methods.

*Enhancing status of representative organizations

From 2015 onwards, the organization representing the interests of Agent Orange victims at the commune, ward and town level was just the branch of Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin. In the hamlets and neighborhoods, there is completely no representative for Agent Orange victims. But since the issuance of Directive No. 43-CT/TW of the Party Central Secretariat on "Strengthening the Party's leadership in the settlement of the consequences of toxic chemicals used by the US during the war in Vietnam"   (hereinafter referred to as Directive 43), then nowadays, the representative organization for Agent Orange victims in communes, wards and towns has been upgraded to Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin with the executive committee of leaders of unions at commune level, representatives of hamlets and neighborhoods.

The enhancement of the status and role of the representative organization for Agent Orange victims at the grassroots level has contributed to strengthening the care for Agent Orange victims. Specifically, immediately after the issuance of Directive 43 in 2015, the communes, wards and towns held a congress to establish the Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin from the branch of Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin.  Some communes and wards have also established a new Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in hamlets and neighborhoods.

In which, Phu Vinh commune is the first locality of Dinh Quan district to implement this issue. According to Mr. To Xuan Minh, Secretary - Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Vinh commune, before 2015, the Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin only had a branch leader and collaborators. The people who assume this role are mainly individuals with a sense of responsibility for the community, so they are willing to spend time, effort and money participating in activities to assist Agent Orange victims in the commune. However, because in the spirit of voluntariness, the locality does not have any support system, so it works only depending on the time, depending on the place, and at times it still sags.

Immediately after the Directive 43, Phu Vinh commune held a congress to establish the Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin on the basis of the former Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin. In order to enhance the role and responsibility of the Association's organization, and at the same time strengthen the party's leadership in the settlement of the consequences of toxic chemicals in the commune, the Party Committee of Phu Vinh commune has structured 3 out of 5 members of the Executive Committee of the Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, who are party members and all members of the executive committee are officials working in communes and hamlets. In addition, 8/8 hamlets of the commune have built branches to act as an extended arm in grasping the actual situation of the victims, participating in mobilizing socialization; thereby, the quality is improved, creating the legitimacy of the agency representing the interests of Agent Orange victims at the grassroots level.

*Taking care of Members

According to Ms. Dao Nguyen, right after the Directive No. 43, Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee also issued Circular No. 33, Party Committees, District Party Committees, Party Committees of communes, wards and townships issued plans for overcoming the consequences of toxic chemicals used by the US during the war in Dong Nai province in the period 2016-2020.

Mr. Tran Tan Mot, Chairman of Long Khanh City's Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, said that after 5 years of implementing Directive 43, the City Association of Victims of Agent Orange has identified roles and responsibilities in advising the City Party Committee and City People's Committee to implement the movements; While coordinating with departments and unions to actively participate in solving the consequences of toxic chemicals used by the US during the war in Vietnam; Making quarterly reports, preliminary 6-month report, annual summary report; Standing Party Committee, commune and ward committees all directly listen to the Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin reports, reflecting the situation of the operation to have deep and timely guidance.

Along with that, since the establishment of the Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin at the commune level, it has received more attention and support from philanthropists as well as social organizations at home and abroad. Specifically, through a letter calling for support to the Provincial Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims Fund the day the whole country takes action "All for victims of Agent Orange/dioxin in Vietnam", on average, each year associations in the province can mobilize about VND 7 to 8 billion to care and support Agent Orange victims in the province. From 2015 up to now, associations at all levels have mobilized over VND 41 billion.

From this support program, more than 4,000 Agent Orange victims in disadvantaged provinces have been able to participate in health care programs. 29 houses were repaired and newly built with the amount of over VND 800 million; Non-interest capital support, support for savings books for 282 households with the amount of over 2.7 billion VND; Awarded 529 scholarships to victims and children of Agent Orange victims; while implementing a monthly subsidy for 949 victims, on average each victim was entitled to a subsidy from VND 300,000 to VND 500,000/month.

By Nguyen Van