Nguyen Thanh Lam, an outstanding disabled person, speaks at the conference (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – A national conference was held in Hanoi on April 8 to honour outstanding people with disabilities and orphans in recognition of their remarkable contributions to the community.
Held once every three years, this year’s event, the fifth of its kind, drew 388 disabled people, orphans and sponsors from 63 cities and provinces.
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said Vietnam is one of the countries with a high rate of people with disabilities, and Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin victims.
Over the past few years, the Party, State and Government have put forth a number of policies to take care of vulnerable groups, including disabled people and orphans.
Vietnam has been recognised by the UN as an example in supporting people from disadvantaged backgrounds, he said.
The Government will continue to support the Vietnam Association in Support of People with Disabilities and Orphans, and other organisations that support disadvantaged citizens.
He asked all sectors, departments and social communities to continue support to those who need it.
According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, around 20 percent of Vietnam’s 90-million population needs social assistance. Of these, 7.2 million are people with disabilities and 1.5 million are underprivileged children.
In 2015, the country had 2.64 million people receiving monthly social allowances, 37,000 of whom were orphans.-VNA
