Japanese researcher helps Vietnam tackle AO/dioxin-related health issues
(VOVWORLD) - A Japanese researcher has just announced a project on training Vietnamese health workers in addressing problems related to Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin, the chemical that was sprayed by the US in Vietnam during the war.
 4.8 million Vietnamese people are exposed to Agent Orange/dioxin, and about 3 million become victims. (Photo: VNA) |
Professor Kido Teruhiko from the Kanazawa University and officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency said the project will be carried out over the course of three years in the Vietnamese central province of Binh Dinh’s Phu Cat district. Kido revealed the detection of a high level of AO/dioxin contained in the milk of nursing mothers in the area, adding that the rate of local underweight children is also high. As such, he has planned to train health workers to check the dioxin level in breast milk and provide healthcare consultations for local mothers.
The professor, who is experienced in studying the impact of AO/dioxin , said he hopes to use the results of his research to improve the well-being of the Vietnamese people.
The US army sprayed some 80 million litres of toxic chemicals, 61 percent of which was Agent Orange containing 366 kilograms of dioxin, over nearly one quarter of the total area of South Vietnam from 1961 to 1971. Preliminary statistics show that 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to the toxic, and about 3 million became victims.