The Hanoitimes - Vietnam currently has more than 200,000 veterans exposed to Agent Orange/Dioxin and infected with some diseases identified by the US Medical Academy.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs released the figure at a meeting in Hanoi o­n November 20 to review the results of dealing with AO consequences in Vietnam.

By far, it said millions of AO victims have received support from the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA), the Vietnam Red Cross Agent Orange Victims Fund, socio-political organizations and domestic and foreign charitable organizations.

Vietnam has not yet had any centres or hospitals which specialize in researching and providing treatment for AO victims. Most of them have been treated at general hospitals but with low efficiency.

However, in September, Hospital 103 conducted a scientific research project that provided detoxification for 24 AO victims through a method that cleansed their perspiration, digestion and urinary tracts. In addition, they were offered a variety of nutritious meals and doses of multi-vitamins. Their health has improved significantly.

A number of projects have been launched nationwide to support AO victims.

The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and the Chemistry Corps' High Command in coordination with the US Environmental Protection Agency and some US companies have joined efforts to clean dioxin in the seriously polluted areas.

A project to deal with dioxin in hot spots funded by the Global Fund has helped clean more than 6,000 cu.m of soil polluted by AO.

In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has actively carried out a project to plant 5 million hectares of forest in the chemical affected areas. From 2002 to 2007, more than 96,253 hectares of forest were planted