Old people receive health check-up (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has praised the important contributions made by the Vietnam Association of the Elderly (VAE) in all periods of the country’s history, especially during the nation’s socio-economic development and protection of its sovereignty.
Addressing a gathering in Hanoi on June 6 to mark the VAE’s 75 th anniversary, he acknowledged the role and prestige of the elderly in society, noting that nearly 80 percent of social associations at local level are being headed by the elderly.
He pointed to the need to tap full use of the experience and credit of the elderly.
Regarding social welfare for the elderly, the Deputy PM also expressed his concern that the percentage of the population joining social insurance in Vietnam is only less than 25 percent, which affects caring for senior citizens.
He called on governments at all levels, the community, and especially businesses and sponsors, to further strengthen cooperation with the VAE to mobilise resources from society and organise more charitable and social welfare programmes targeting the elderly.
Speaking at the event, Heroine of Labour Cu Thi Hau, President of the VAE Central Committee, noted that 9.46 million old people are living across the country, with 8.4 million being VAE members.
Currently, the VAE has covered all communes with many effective models, including a “trans-generation club” model aiming to foster affiliation between the elderly and the community in reducing poverty and reinforcing social solidarity, she said. So far, 580 clubs have been set up in 15 localities with nearly 50,000 members.
The elderly have also persuaded their offspring to donate 12 million square metres of lands for road construction, she said, adding that nearly 1,000 old people living in 44 boundary localities have agreed to work with border posts in protecting social security.-VNA
