The ceremony was attended by Politburo members: National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan; Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the PCC Commission for Mass Mobilisation Truong Thi Mai, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai; PCC member and Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam; President of the VAE Pham Thi Hai Chuyen, among others.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam praised the important contributions made by the Vietnam Association of the Elderly (VAE) throughout every period of the country’s history, especially during the nation’s socio-economic development and the protection of its sovereignty.
He pointed out the need to fully tap into and use their experience and credit the elderly.
He called on the governments at all levels, the community, and especially businesses and sponsors, to further strengthen their cooperation with the VAE in order to mobilise resources from society and organise more charitable and social welfare programmes targeting the elderly.
Activities during the action month should focus on raising public awareness of and attracting social resources to care for the elderly, especially those in disadvantageous circumstances, he noted.
Speaking at the event, President of the VAE Pham Thi Hai Chuyen noted that nearly 10 million old people are living throughout the country, with nearly 9 million being VAE members.
Currently, the VAE covers all communes with many effective models, including a “trans-generation club” model aiming to foster the affiliation between the elderly and the community in reducing poverty and reinforcing social solidarity, she added.
She also highlighted the need to work with the relevant ministries, agencies and localities to effectively implement measures benefitting the elderly and to mobilise local funds to provide better care for the elderly.
