Disabled people get rights ensured to help themselves: Deputy PM

Organizations, individuals support charitable programme for people with disabilities (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – People with disabilities should not be viewed as unfortunates and need help, but those with equal rights and that rights must be ensured to enable them to help themselves and contribute to society, said Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam.

He made the remark at the 5th Congress of the Vietnam Association for Support to People with Disabilities and Orphans in Hanoi on April 14.

Addressing the event, Deputy PM Dam spoke highly of the leaders and members of the association who have provided care and protection of rights for people with disabilities and underprivileged children over the past 25 years.

Thanks to such efforts, millions of them have overcome their disabilities and disadvantages and become models of success, Dam lauded.

He noted that state agencies should take account of factors affecting disabled people in policy-making decisions and in developing action plans to protect their rights due to the increasing social pressure on these people.

The Deputy PM also applauded progress made by the association, in which it has not only performed charity works but also strives to protect disabled people’s rights. He hoped that the association will continue taking part in making policy and supervising the enforcement of laws and policies for people with disabilities and underprivileged people.

He called on Vietnamese people to actively participate in the association’s campaigns while the business community was urged to practise corporate social responsibility for the society’s sustainable development.

The association estimated that it has raised more than 1.86 trillion VND in cash and gifts and offered assistance to over 6 million people during 2012 – 2017.         

In the congress, the association sets to raise about 1.65 trillion VND for 2017-2022. It plans to offer employment opportunities for about 7,000 people; provide free eye surgeries for 38,000 people as well as free heart surgeries and rehabilitation for 5,000 others; and purchase 30,000 health insurances for disabled people, orphans and poor households in the period.

The congress has voted 73 members for the association’s executive board and elected Vice President of the association’s 4th Central Committee Luong Phan Cu as the new President for the 2017-2020 term.-VNA

VNA