People with disabilities in Da Nang make up nearly 1% of the city's population. To help them have a stable life, it is necessary for the city to have radical, long-term solutions in addition to in-kind support.

Illustrative image (Photo: baodanang.vn)

Currently, there are nearly 13,000 people with severe and especially severe disabilities in the city. Nearly 2,000 households and individuals taking care of disabled people are enjoying monthly social allowances with a total budget of more than VND94 billion/year.

Moreover, the city has issued many mechanisms and policies to support the disabled. Included are granting health insurance cards, supporting funeral fees, giving allowances for unexpected difficulties, providing food and Tet gifts, building new houses or upgrading downgraded ones, and more.

Helpless people with especially severe disabilities are cared for at social protection centres in the city.

The city has provided free-of-charge vocational training courses for the disabled in the form of specific vocational tutoring through associations. Localities have deployed many job exchanges to support the disabled to easily access vocational training and find jobs.

The city branch of the Bank for Social Policies has facilitated people with disabilities to access preferential loans with an interest rate accounting for half of the loan interest rate for poor households.

Besides, children aged 0-6 have been facilitated to access free screening programmes for the early detection of disabilities.

The city also ensures the policy of exemption and reduction of fares for people with disabilities when participating in public transport services, tourism, and physical training and sports.

Mr. Dang Van Hong Toi, a resident of Group 27, Thanh Khe Tay Ward, Thanh Khe District, is a severely disabled person. He receives a monthly allowance of VND 600,000.

He hoped that, in the coming time, the local authorities and relevant agencies will continue to create conditions for him to get loans at preferential interest rate to open a small shop repairing household electrical appliances, thereby earning more income to take care of himself and his family.

However, in order to ensure more effective support for people with disabilities in the coming time, the city needs to combat discrimination or existing prejudices against persons with disabilities, as well as enhance community responsibility in supporting people with disabilities.

Special attention will be paid to mobilising organisations and communities to support means of livelihood for people with disabilities so as to ensure their daily lives, and building institutions for people with disabilities to access, participate fully and enjoy social services right in their communities, especially vocational training, job placement services, psychological counseling, and health care.

Reporting by LINH DAN - Translating by M.DUNG