First survey: Disabled people account for 7% population

VGP – Viet Nam is home to about 6.2 million persons with disabilities, accounting for 7% of the population, according to a survey.

January 12, 2019 8:51 AM GMT+7

Key facts of the survey

The General Statistics Office (GSO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on January 11 jointly announced a national investigation into persons with disabilities in 2016.

The large-scale investigation applied international standards to collect comprehensive information about persons with disabilities in Viet Nam in 2016 and 2017.

The investigation aimed to assess the situation of persons with disabilities in the populations and provide evidence for law and policy making in favor of the beneficiaries, said Mr. Vu Thanh Liem, GSO Deputy General Director.

Accordingly, disabilities affect a remarkable proportion of population in Viet Nam. The survey found that over 7% of the population aged 2 years and older, – around 6.2 million, have a disability but an additional 13% - nearly 12 million, live in a household with a person with a disability. These percentages are expected to rise with the aging of the population.

Under the investigation, families of persons with disabilities are poorer. Children with disabilities face the risk of less education in comparison with their peers. Persons with disabilities enjoy less opportunities of job recruitment.

Even though the handicapped are beneficiaries of healthcare policies, only 2.3% of them use rehabilitation services when sick or injured.

Moreover, there are inequalities of living standards and social engagement among the group of persons with disabilities.

Addressing the event, Vice Head Representative of UNICEF Lesley Miller said that UN bodies and international agencies pledged to support Viet Nam to protect rights of persons with disabilities in Viet Nam./.

By Kim Anh