Third and fourth generation Agent Orange victims need a "support"

Disadvantage

Although he is 10 years old, Le Hoang Anh in Thanh Quang commune (Thanh Ha) still needs someone to look after him. When there is no one to look after him, he is locked in a cage. Compared to his peers, he is thinner and shorter. Hoang Anh is the grandson of Mr. Nguyen Van Minh.

From 1966 to 1972, Mr. Minh fought in the B battlefield. When he returned to his hometown, he was confirmed to have been infected with 41% of Agent Orange. Mr. Minh and his wife had 6 children, fortunately 3 of them were determined to be normal, but 3 of them were infected with Agent Orange: Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet and Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan.

According to Mr. Minh, after starting a family, Ms. Mai gave birth 10 times, but 6 of the babies died immediately after birth, 3 of the babies were healthy but had limited health. As for Hoang Anh, there were clear signs of Agent Orange poisoning.

In addition to Hoang Anh, Mr. Minh also has another niece, the daughter of Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy. This niece is 18 years old but cannot take care of herself and has to rely on her parents for help.

Mr. Minh said that his children's families are currently facing a lot of difficulties. Those who have been diagnosed with Agent Orange must take medication to stabilize their mental and emotional health. His two grandchildren, however, have shown very clear symptoms but have not yet received any benefits. "We have suffered greatly from the disease. I hope the authorities will soon consider allowing our children to receive benefits from Agent Orange," said Mr. Minh.

Mr. Dinh Manh Cuong in Gia Loc town is deaf and in poor health due to the effects of Agent Orange. Mr. Cuong has two children, of whom Ms. Dinh Thi Phuc was diagnosed with Agent Orange and receives monthly allowances. Mr. Cuong's son, Mr. Dinh Van Hanh, is not infected, but his children are. Dinh Anh Kiet has congenital hydronephrosis. Although he is only 11 years old this year, he has had 5 kidney surgeries and regularly takes medication. "We hope he will receive the treatment for people infected with Agent Orange so that when he is hospitalized, the family's expenses will be reduced," Mr. Cuong said.

Persistent

According to statistics from the Hai Duong Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, the province currently has 11,000 members. According to the association's survey, there are currently 531 third-generation victims and 7 fourth-generation victims infected with Agent Orange. However, this number is much higher because some families do not want to provide information about the status of their children and grandchildren. "Although they have clear signs of the consequences of Agent Orange, the third and fourth generations have not yet received this type of subsidy. Currently, only a few people receive social protection," said Mr. Vu Xuan Thu, Chairman of the provincial Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin.

According to statistics from authorities, from 1961 to 1971, the US army dumped about 80 million liters of toxic chemicals on the South of our country, of which 61% was Agent Orange.

This toxin affects the entire body, causing skin cancer, skin and liver damage, gene and chromosome mutations, leading to birth defects, reproductive complications... In particular, Agent Orange is persistently passed from generation to generation. The damage to the next generation is even more severe than the first generation.

In recent years, Hai Duong has carried out many activities to care for people infected with toxic chemicals and Agent Orange, such as visiting and giving gifts on holidays, Tet, and Day for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin. These activities have partly eased the pain and suffering that people infected with Agent Orange have to endure. “We hope that people of the third and fourth generations will soon enjoy the regime for people infected with Agent Orange. They themselves suffer from many illnesses and cannot support themselves and have to rely on the help of their relatives,” Mr. Thu added.

The third and fourth generations need a support system to stabilize their lives. Because, in just a short time, when their parents pass away, they will no longer have a stable support system.