Ho Chi Minh's thoughts on caring for the elderly

(GLO)- During his lifetime, Uncle Ho always respected the elderly and loved children. He considered the elderly "a precious treasure of the nation" and the shining examples of the elderly and young people "symbols of the country's blessings".

On December 14, 1990, the United Nations General Assembly (UN) voted to adopt October 1 of each year as the International Day of Older Persons. The first International Day of Older Persons was held on October 1, 1991.

President Ho Chi Minh always showed his love, deep concern and trust for the elderly. Photo: internet

In 1982, the UN held the first World Congress on Aging in Austria with more than 3,000 delegates from most countries in the world attending. The representative of Vietnam at that time was Professor Pham Khue - Director of the Vietnam Gerontology Institute.

The conference adopted an international program of activities on aging; recommended that governments and people of all countries pay attention to gradually solving problems related to the elderly, based on the specific circumstances of each country, focusing on 6 areas: health and nutrition; housing and environment; family; social services and protection; employment; and improving the elderly's understanding of life.

In 1990, eight years after the World Congress on Aging in Austria, the UN General Assembly decided to make October 1st every year the International Day of Older Persons, starting in 1991.

Since the International Day of Older Persons was born, Vietnam has been one of the countries that has responded from the very beginning. The Party, the State and the whole society have paid attention to the International Day of Older Persons on October 1 every year with practical actions. Legal documents have all paid attention to building policies and national action programs, taking care of health, creating conditions for the elderly to have a stable life, continuing to promote, foster and educate experiences for the younger generation.

Doctors from Military Hospital 211 examine and provide health advice to the elderly in Ia Grai commune. Photo: Phuong Loan

Notably, the National Assembly issued the Ordinance on the Elderly and then issued the Law on the Elderly, which specifically regulates the care, support and promotion of the role of the elderly. The Prime Minister signed and issued Decision No. 544/QD-TTg to designate October every year as the "Action Month for the Elderly in Vietnam"; established the National Committee for the Elderly in Vietnam. The Association of the Elderly at all levels is the core in its activities, a social organization representing the aspirations, rights and legitimate interests of the elderly in Vietnam.

All of the above actions are inherited from President Ho Chi Minh's thoughts on the elderly. Because during his lifetime, Uncle Ho always respected the elderly and loved children. He considered the elderly "a precious treasure of the nation" and the shining examples of the elderly and young people as "symbols of the country's blessings" in the revolutionary line based on the strength of great national unity. President Ho Chi Minh advocated "mobilizing all forces, not leaving out any people, to contribute to the national force". In particular, the elderly have a particularly important role.

Uncle Ho emphasized: "The responsibility of our elders towards the country's mission is truly great. The prosperous country is built by the elders. The country exists thanks to the elders' contributions. When the country is lost, the elders save it; when the country declines, the elders support it." Uncle Ho also said: "An ignorant nation is a weak nation" and he advocated fighting illiteracy along with fighting famine and foreign invaders. The elderly who had achievements in learning the national language were praised by Uncle Ho: "Not only are they a model of diligence for their children and grandchildren, but they also demonstrate the strong will of the Vietnamese people."

He also affirmed that the Dien Hong tradition is a glorious tradition of patriotism of the nation and of our elders in particular. Continuing that tradition, the elders did not enjoy leisure because of their old age and white hair. They also organized a "white-haired army" to do tasks such as: encouraging their children and grandchildren to join the army, youth volunteers, maintaining order and security in the village, helping the militia, increasing production, planting trees and afforesting, and encouraging people to put rice jars to fight against the Americans to save the country.

President Ho Chi Minh is also a shining example of "old age, high ambition" for the elderly in the country to follow. All his life, Uncle Ho fought and sacrificed tirelessly for the people and the country, forgetting his old age and himself. It can be said that his joys and sorrows, his love were all attached to the Fatherland, to the People, including the elderly. He forgot his own happiness, was willing to take love for his homeland and country, love for everyone as a source of life and happiness: "Milk for the children, silk for the elderly". He always worried about the worries of the world. His life was a noble sacrifice for the cause of national liberation, for the future of the country, for the happiness of the People.

President Ho Chi Minh's thoughts on the elderly originate from the objective requirements of the revolutionary cause, clearly demonstrate the national cultural tradition and still have value for the work of mobilizing the elderly in the new revolutionary period.

In fact, in the world as well as in our country, many elderly people today, with their experience, have been and are working with the younger generation to create a solid foundation for social development. In the past resistance wars against foreign powers as well as in building and defending the Fatherland today, the elderly always play a very important role, being a shining example in all social activities for their children, relatives, villages and especially the younger generation to follow. For that reason, the Party Central Committee has awarded the Vietnam Association of the Elderly 18 brilliant golden words: "The older the age, the higher the ambition, setting a shining example for the cause of building and defending the Fatherland".

International Day of Older Persons is also an opportunity for us to reflect on our own behavior, pay attention to and care for the elderly as best we can, in accordance with the nation's traditional morality of "remembering the source of water when drinking water". On this occasion, the Association of the Elderly at all levels in localities often organizes seminars to commemorate and commend the elderly who have made great contributions to the development movement of the Association as well as to society. The Association also organizes visits and presents gifts to the elderly who are sick, in difficult circumstances, and have no one to rely on.

Thanks to hard work and healthy eating, Mrs. Bac is always happy, loves life and is full of vitality. Photo: NVCC

Party committees and authorities at all levels always show concern and care for the material and spiritual life of the elderly to the extent possible, implementing social policies, especially regarding healthcare, health care and entertainment services for the elderly.

However, somewhere there are still some local Party committees and authorities that do not properly perceive the role and position of the elderly in social life, so there are still lonely elderly people without support, facing difficulties in material and spiritual life. That needs to be effectively overcome in the coming time with many specific and practical solutions in the spirit of "leaving no one behind".

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/tu-tuong-ho-chi-minh-ve-cham-lo-nguoi-cao-tuoi-post567975.html