International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is a global observance celebrated every year on December 3 with a motive to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society.

The theme for IDPD this year is “Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.” Viet Nam, in the early days of December, has still paid largely attention to the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic duties as well as in addition to the situation of thousands of families in the central region being affected by severe floods, while the northern provinces suffered from piercing cold.

The complicated and prolonged COVID-19 pandemic situation has deeply affected people’s lives as well as businesses’ operations. In these common strugglings, it can be affirmed that people with disabilities are still the most affected. While it was difficult for them to get a stable job in the past, now that the difficulty has multiplied due to the bad consequences of the pandemic and natural disasters.

According to the results of the national survey in 2017, Viet Nam currently has over 6.3 million people with disabilities, including approximately 700,000 children aged from 2 to 17 years old and more than 5.5 million people aged 18 years old and above with 3 main types of disability that are motor disability, cognitive disability, communication disability. Up to 91.5% of people with disabilities access medical services annually and 26, 7% of people with disabilities need healthcare. These figures are practical evidence to show all the difficulties of people with disabilities that need to be shared.

In 2010, the Law on Persons with Disabilities was approved by the National Assembly and took effect from January 1, 2011, stipulating that April 18 every year is taken as the Viet Nam Day of People with Disabilities. This clearly shows Viet Nam's concern and care for people with disabilities via comprehensive and codified regulations. However, it must be admitted that there is still a long gap between the policy and reality so the functional forces must put more effort.

For the time being, the difficulties of people with disabilities multiply in the context of complicated COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters. However, Viet Nam people are those who are rich in kindness and live with the spirit of "good leaves protect torn leaves" for generations. More than ever, all of us - who are fortunate not to have physical or mental disabilities, should listen to and share difficulties with people with disabilities. Although everyone has currently encountered a bunch of difficulties, however, just by listening to and understanding the difficulties of people with disabilities, our hearts will feel at ease and tell ourselves what we need to do for them.

Reporting by THANH VAN- Translating by T.VY