Tuyen Quang renews the care for victims of Agent Orange

I: Socialization of the care for victims of Agent Orange

Every year the State spends a large amount of money on taking care of the health of AO victims. However, State budget hardly cover for all expenses of the work. Because of the fact that in addition to AO victims, there are many other vulnerable peoples such as the disabled, the poor, orphans, etc., who also need the support of the society. Therefore, an effective solution is to attract socialization. Over the past time, Tuyen Quang has adopted many measures to gradually implement the socialization of the care for AO victims.

Create \"bright spots\" of fund raising

Understanding the difficulties, losses and disadvantages of AO victims, in recent years, the locality has always actively promoted propaganda to build support funds to help the victims. Mr. Nguyen Manh Sam, Chairman of the Provincial Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin shared that in the past 5 years, the total amount of mobilisation in the whole society for AO victims in the province is more than 15 billion VND. Currently, the Provincial Association, District Associations and most of the communes, wards and townships have established the Fund \"For Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin\". This fund has contributed to timely supporting and encouraging spiritual, material, livelihood and health care for the victims, thereby helping them step by step stabilize their lives and integrate into the community.

Chiem Hoa Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin so far has more than 800 members. Although it is a highland district with many difficulties, over the years, the district\'s Associations for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin at all levels have closely coordinated to build “Funds for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin\" in each commune. As a result, 23/23 communes have established this fund so far. Chiem Hoa District Association has become the province\'s bright spot in the fund-raising activities.

Mr. Phung Dinh Hung, Chairman of Chiem Hoa District\'s Association shared that the initial difficulty was that many people did not understand the necessity of establishing such fund. Therefore, leaders of the Association have actively coordinated and personally travelled to each commune to propagate and mobilize about the humanitarian significance of fund raising. In order to facilitate and ensure the objectivity, the People\'s Committees of communes acts as account holders, actively initiating and managing expenditures. The Associations do the advisory work. As a result, over the years, the funds have been operating effectively, receiving the active support of the people, officials, civil servants and public employees in the area. On average, each commune raises 20 to 30 million VND per year. With this fund, the victims are often visited and presented gifts during holidays, the 10th of August or when they are sick or ill.

The Na Hang District Agent Orange/Dioxin Association currently has 224 members living in the communes of Nang Kha, Thanh Tuong, Thuong Nong, Da Vi, Na Hang town, in which 103 victims are entitled to the favourable regime. Mr. Nong Duc Minh, Chairman of the District Association for Agent Orange/Dioxins said that in order to build an effective fund, organizations at all levels should closely coordinate with the Fatherland Front and mass organizations to mobilize, propagate and raise awareness and responsibility in fund raising.

Mr. Le Quang Uyen, Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee, Vice Chairman of Na Hang Town\'s Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin expressed: \"When people understand that, joining hands to alleviate the Agent Orange pain is a humanitarian act, the responsibility of the entire political system and social community; it is easier to build funds in the locality”. Na Hang town has 20 residential clusters with over 2,000 households, 7,307 people with 13 ethnic groups living together. Promoting the strength of the people\'s great unity, since 2015 to date, the town\'s Fatherland Front Committee has directed the Front Working Committees in the residential clusters to support the fund for AO victims nearly 60 million VND.

Since 2015 to date, the whole Na Hang district has mobilized over 300 million VND for the district fund. From this fund, the district AO/Dioxin Association has transferred 150 million VND to the \"For Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin\" Fund of the province. The remaining money is used to buy gifts for victims every year. Over the past 10 years, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year and anniversaries, the Associations at all levels in the province have deducted from the fund \"For victims of Agent Orange/dioxin\" to buy 9,051 gifts for the victim\'s family, each of which worths from 200 to 500 thousand VND. In addition, the Association also supports money to renew and repair 303 houses, worth over 3.6 billion VND; supported medical examination and treatment for 514 victims with the amount of 640 million VND.

Leaders of the Provincial Association for Victims of AO/dioxin present wheelchair for victim Nguyen Thi Thanh Ngan at Trung Mon commune, Yen Son district

In addition to the socialization in fund raising, the Associations at all levels also maintain funds for supporting the victims. The whole province currently has 8 funds located at spiritual places such as: An Vinh Pagoda, Ha Temple, Y La Temple (Tuyen Quang City), etc. Notably, the fund located at Dai Bi Pagoda, Xuan Van Commune (Yen Son), built in 2014 by Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Chairman of Xuan Van Commune\'s Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin and the association\'s executive board..., annually contributes over 10 million VND to the fund \"For AO/dioxin victims\".

Standing side by side with AO victims

In addition to the funds mobilized from the society, the locality also has many activities to support the livelihoods of the victims, including: repair and construction of houses; support for economic development… According to Mr. Nguyen Manh Sam, President of the Provincial Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, in the past 10 years, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year and anniversaries, all levels of the Association in the province have extracted from the Fund \"For victims of Agent Orange” by units, businesses and individuals to carry out many meaningful activities. In addition to presenting gifts and taking care of the victim’s health. The Association also used money from this fund to renew and repair 303 houses, worth over 3.6 billion VND; provided loans for hundreds of subjects, each ranges from 10 to 50 million VND/person; donated 11 savings books, each worths 3 million VND to members; provided 27 wheelchairs worth 59 million VND…

Member Ha Huu Han, Phu An 1 village, Thai Long commune (Tuyen Quang city) is an AO victim, whose family is in extremely difficult circumstances. In 2018, the Provincial Association and the People\'s Committee of Thai Long Commune (Tuyen Quang City) raised donations and support to build a new house for him. The new house of gratitude with an area of ​​nearly 50 m2, concrete roof, and marble floor has brought a new life to Han and his family. He said excitedly: “We can only live in a spacious house until the end of my life. My special thanks to all levels of the association, Party committees and commune authorities for their support for my family to complete the construction of my house”. The house has a total value of over 150 million VND, in which, the Provincial Fund \"For Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin\" supports 40 million VND.

In the entire province, there are 282 near-poor households who are AO victims, and the need to renew and repair houses for the victims is very high. Therefore, for many years, besides from the fund \"For the victims of Agent Orange/dioxin\", the Association at all levels has always actively called and mobilized benefactors to support and build funds to support the victims build and repair houses. In particular, many units and enterprises are very active in supporting the victims... Typically, the Provincial Military Command always cares and supports the families of its officers and employees whose are infected with Agent Orange/dioxin, both materially and spiritually. In 2015, the unit raised 70 million dong to support the construction of a new house and help the relatives of Lieutenant Tran Quy Chi, who is working at Son Duong Military Office. Thanh Binh Transport and Environmental Sanitation Cooperative (Tuyen Quang City) regularly conducts many activities to support the victims. Recently, the cooperative has supported 40 million VND to build a new house for Mr. Phung Kim Dinh\'s family in Luong Vuong commune.

In addition, the Association has had many activities to support its members in economic development. Every year, from the Fund \"For Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin\" of the province, about 8-10 members can borrow an interest-free loan of 10 million VND within 3 to 5 years for economic development. Also from the districts’ funds, 3-5 members can borrow 5 million VND without interest for economic development. With this approach, many members have done good economic practices and escaped poverty.

Mr. Do Xuan Su, a member of Tan Ha ward said: in the past his family faced several difficulties due to limited income. In 2015, he borrowed 10 million VND from the Association\'s fund and borrowed more from relatives to open a shop selling construction materials and electrical and water equipment. Thanks to that business, his family has earned stable. Every year, excluding expenses, he earns an average of 150 million dong/year. His family life has been improved. His house has been built more spaciously. In addition, he also creates regular jobs for 5-7 workers with an average income of 150-300 thousand VND/day.

In Na Hang district, on average, 3 members are entitled to loans every year and promote their effectiveness. For example, Mr. Ma Van Dau, Thanh Tuong commune is an AO victim with two blind eyes. Dau shared that in 2019, he was lent 10 million VND by the Provincial Association for economic development. He borrowed more from his relatives to buy a buffalo for economic development. So far, he has earned enough and returned the loan to the Association so that other households can benefit from the credit.

In fact, taking care of AO victims requires the cooperation of the community and the whole society. Over the past time, the Associations for Agent Orange/dioxin victims at all levels in the province have had many good ways to mobilize the support of the whole society, and promote socialization of the care and support for the victims...