National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has praised the great achievements of the Poor Patients, Disabled People and Orphans Support Association in southern Ben Tre province for their work over the past decade.

Speaking at a December 1 ceremony to mark the association’s tenth founding anniversary, she said it has significantly contributed to the southern province’s social welfare.

Akemi Bando, Secretary General of Japan’s Support of Vietnam Children Association, which has also accompanied Ben Tre children for the past two decades, voiced her hope that the association will stir the hearts of thousands of people both at home and abroad towards disadvantaged groups.

The association has developed 11 branches with more than 2,200 members and a budget of over 200 billion VND (9.4 million USD).

At the ceremony, domestic and foreign organisations, collectives and individuals contributed more than 21 billion VND to the association.

On this occasion, it also received the Labour Order, second class, for its outstanding performance.

The General Department of Sports and Physical Training in conjunction with the Vietnam Paralympic Association (VPA) organised an artistic programme at the Hanoi Opera House on December 1 to mark the International Day for People with Disabilities (December 3).

Addressing the event, deputy head of the General Department and VPA President Pham Van Tuan said over the past time the Party and State of Vietnam have issued many laws, policies and regulations towards people with disabilities, creating conditions for them to integrate into the community.

According to him, the VPA, whose-predecessor the Vietnam Sports Association for People with Disabilities-was founded in 1995, has expanded its reach to 31 cities and provinces nationwide with thousands of disabled athletes.

Vietnamese disabled people have won high places at regional physical competitions, he said, noting their fifth position out of over 30 countries at the Asian Para Games this year.

The Thua Thien-Hue Provincial Disabled People and Orphans Support Association on December 1 also presented scholarships to 40 disabled students who have achieved outstanding academic results.

The fifth National Sports Games for Students with Disabilities will be held from December 3-8 in the northern province of Thai Nguyen.

The organisation board said at a press briefing on December 1 that as many as 14 delegations with over 600 athletes and officials have registered to take part in the event.-VNA