Singapore Businessman Donates MRI Scanner to Vietnam Danang for AO Victims

A Singaporean entrepreneur has donated a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner to the Danang Hospital in central Danang city to assist with the examination and treatment of local Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims. Harold Chan Soo York presented the VND33 billion ($1.45 million) scanner to the hospital at a ceremony on November 29. The businessman said he will continue to work with the Danang Association of Victims of AO/dioxin to raise EUR150,000 ($158,890) for the purchase of medical equipment serving the treatment of AO/dioxin victims. According to the Vietnam Association of Victims of AO/dioxin, between 1961 and 1971, the US army sprayed 80 million liters of herbicides, including nearly 400 kg of dioxin, onto the southern battlefield. Among 4.8 million people exposed to the toxic chemical, about 3 million are AO victims. Danang is one of the worst dioxin contaminated hot spots. (Thanh Nien – Young People Nov 03 p7, Tuoitre.vn Nov 29, Xaluan.com Nov 29)