Many victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin in Vietnam have been able to take care of themselves and reintegrate into the community after benefiting from charitable operations.
Ho Ngoc Anh Thu, 20, from Cu Chi District, HCM City suffered from ankylosis of limb joints. She couldn't use her hands and legs before and used to stay in bed all the time.
However, her life has entered a new chapter after being provided with a free operation. Now she is learning to walk and can do several things she was unable to before.
Ho Ngoc Anh Thu learning to walk after the operation
Pham Thi Nhi, from the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin, said Thu is just one among many who were lucky enough to receive help from charities funded by the association and several other organisations.
The programme has provided 37 rehabilitation operations for AO/dioxin victims over the past two years at a cost of VND500 million (USD23,679). The funding came through donations from domestic and foreign organisations. Most of the benefactors have been able to walk again.
“Many AO/dioxin victims have recovered from the operations and gradually been able to start to work and study,” Nhi said.
A small girl named Trang Thanh Ha happy when being able to stand on her feet for the first time.
According to her, the association has just received more funding from the French Dioxin Association, an organisation from the US, and Pall Nalon, a US veteran for the programme. They have agreed to finance operations of 30 more AO/dioxin victims in HCM City in the time to come.