The past war left behind great effects on returning soldiers poisoned by Agent Orange (AO) or dioxin which can cause birth defects. The pains are relieving thanks to community sharing and caring.
In the hot summer days, we paid our visit to home of Mrs. Le Thi Tuyet in Phu Loi ward, Thu Dau Mot town to catch a very moving scene of a 43-year-old son who unable to take care of himself. She recalled her days joining revolutionary movement in Thanh Tuyen where she got married. Of the five children she had, one is disable and unable to hold a thing nor say a word. And, her family has been suffering from the pains left behind by war.
Dr. Physician Pham Ngoc Thai – executive commissioner of VAVA (Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin) and chairman of Binh Duong Association of AO victims, paid visit to an AO victim.
AO/dioxin also destroys happiness of Mr. Nguyen Van Thuy in Dinh Hoa ward, Thu Dau Mot town. Over 16 years, his son Nguyen The Dung born in 1994 has been in pain since his birth.
“In the years from 1960 to 1973, I joined battle fields in Quang Tri and the high land where I spent the years drinking and eating in the forest and might have poisoned by the chemical,” said Mr. Nguyen Van Thuy. After leaving the army, Nguyen Van Thuy got married in 1989 and gave birth to two children. Unfortunately, one of his children was affected by AO and remained bedridden for over 16 years. Mr. Nguyen Van Thuy himself was medically certified as 75% of labor incapacitation due to dioxin.
People of different identities in region affected by Agent Orange/dioxin became the victims. The effects brought on to many generations who are left in illness, loneliness and even homeless.
Binh Duong Association of AO victims are currently working with localities to list out the victims for better care and help. In the meantime, the association will help to build house and offer heath check.
Of 4,000 AO affected cases in Binh Duong, only 10% of them are offered with allowances. And thus, the relief is everybody’s work because it requires reforms of policies to ensure social equality and relief to victims physically and mentally.
Reported by Tuong Vy - Nhan Quang – Translated by Vi Bao
