More than 5,000 people join the walk to ease the pain of Agent Orange

Attending the program were comrades: Nguyen Minh Triet, former Politburo member, former President; Truong My Hoa, former Secretary of the Party Central Committee, former Vice President; Major General Do Hong Lam, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin; Major General Tran Ngoc Tho, former Chief of Staff of Military Region 7, former President of the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin; Tran Thi Dieu Thuy, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.

Also attending were Mr. Karl Van Den Bossche, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Belgium to Vietnam; along with representatives of the Consulates General of several countries and more than 5,000 people participating in the walk.

At the program, Major General, Associate Professor, Doctor, People's Physician Nguyen Hong Son, Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin shared that 64 years of the "Agent Orange Disaster" and 50 years of war have passed, but the terrible diseases and physical and mental pain still persist, tormenting millions of Vietnamese people through 3-4 generations.

Immediately after the country’s reunification, the Vietnamese government considered this a special war consequence issue and had many solutions and social policies to help Agent Orange victims. With the spirit of “mutual love” of the Vietnamese people, organizations and individuals have joined hands to ease this pain. The lives of Agent Orange victims have also improved significantly. In addition, they have also received support from international friends, both materially and spiritually.

“We cannot change history but we can change the future. In the spirit of “Putting the past behind - Looking to the future”, Vietnam is integrating deeply and comprehensively into the world, we call on the conscience, hearts and hands of friends around the world to help ease the pain of Agent Orange”, Major General, Associate Professor, Doctor, People's Physician Nguyen Hong Son emphasized.

After the merger, the number of Agent Orange victims in Ho Chi Minh City is estimated at over 30,000 people with many generations. This is a big problem and challenge. Therefore, Major General, Associate Professor, Doctor, People's Physician Nguyen Hong Son suggested that it is necessary to continue to strengthen extensive propaganda and education in society and international friends about the consequences of war and Agent Orange in Vietnam. In addition to the support and care of the Party and State, the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin needs to be proactive, creative, dare to think, dare to do, and find appropriate solutions in its methods of operation.

On this occasion, the organizers and sponsors presented 40 savings books to 40 families with Agent Orange victims in difficult circumstances (VND 10 million/book). In addition, 20 gifts (each worth VND 1 million) and 5 wheelchairs were also given to Agent Orange victims.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/hon-5000-nguoi-tham-gia-di-bo-chung-tay-xoa-diu-noi-dau-da-cam-post807674.html