Meeting marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities

The event was co-organised by the National Committee for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) and the Hanoi Association of People with Disabilities.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of the Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and NCPD Vice President Dao Hong Lan said Vietnam is one of the countries with a high rate of people with disabilities in Asia-Pacific with nearly 8 million disabled people, or 7.8% of total population, including 1.2 million children.

Most of the disabled Vietnamese face difficulties in their lives, especially those who are Agent Orange/dioxin victims, she added.

Over the past, Vietnam has issued many policies and action programmes to improve the living standards for this group. Thanks to these, people with disabilities have been provided with social allowances, housing, education, health care, vocational training, employment and preferential loans.

However, support has yet come to all people in need, she said, adding that many disabled persons do not haveto access to job opportunities and social services.

The meeting offers a chance for State agencies, organisations and individuals to accompany people with disabilities, sharing love and responsibility with them, she noted.

This year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities takes the theme of “Transformation towards Sustainable and Resilient Society for All”.