Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong, a leading obstetrician-gynecologist and advocate for Agent Orange victims in Vietnam, is elected as one of five 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees. Recognized for her transformative work in public health and her tireless advocacy for Agent Orange survivors, Phuong has made significant contributions to addressing one of Vietnam’s most severe humanitarian crises.
She dedicated her life into researching the effects of Agent Orange. Prompted a paper on the use of herbicides in Vietnam, Phuong, and her associates established that people in areas sprayed with Agent Orange suffered from birth defects three times more than in other places. She published her research and joined the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA). With over 4,000 members, VAVA seeks accountability for the damage done by Agent Orange and brings relief to its victims.
Millions have suffered severe health conditions, including skin diseases, birth defects, miscarriages, and chronic illnesses because of Agent Orange. Over 20 million gallons of dioxin-imbued chemicals were sprayed across the country, exposing 4.8 million Vietnamese people, with three million becoming victims. This created one of the most severe environmental and health crises in Vietnam’s history.
Phuong, who became a doctor during the war, recalls the horrors she witnessed at its peak in 1968: “When I was an intern, I delivered for the first time in my life, a severely deformed baby—it had no brain and limbs. It was horrible for me. I was nauseous, vomiting, and shaking. And how was the scared young mother? She was in shock when she saw her baby. Since then, every day or two, I have witnessed such birth defects and mothers’ sufferings. But, for many years, I didn’t know what caused these tragic events.” Phuong dedicated her life to uncovering the truth about Agent Orange, providing care and advocacy for its victims.
Phuong has fought for Agent Orange victims both in the laboratory and on the international stage, including with the American Public Health Association. She has supported legal action against chemical companies and is widely respected for her sincerity and humanity, beyond politics.
The Ramon Magsaysay Award recognized Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong “for her extraordinary dedication as a physician and her commitment to public service, recognizing her as a beacon of hope for her people. At the same time, her work serves as a powerful reminder of the long-lasting consequences of war and the need to avoid it at all costs. Her efforts demonstrate that it is never too late to seek justice and relief for the innocent victims of conflict.”
In an official statement released to the Foundation, Phuong shared “It’s a great honor and pleasure for me to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award this year. With my colleagues in the Tu Du Hospital and VAVA (Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange), we’ve worked to raise global awareness of the adverse effects of Agent Orange on victims of the war. Our combined 47 years of research have
given us a clearer understanding of the carcinogenic risk posed by Dioxin, and lasting threats to reproductive health. This Award serves as a great encouragement to all of us in VAVA in continuing our efforts to support, promote, and bring justice to the generations impacted by Agent Orange as they strive through adversity each day. This Award also declares strongly to the world that our planet needs to be protected, and that all people need peace, not war and mass-killing weapons.”
The 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Award celebrates outstanding leaders, recognizing their remarkable contributions to society. This year’s esteemed Ramon Magsaysay Awardees include Karma Phuntsho (Bhutan), Miyazaki Hayao (Japan), Rural Doctors Movement (Thailand), and for Emergent Leadership Farwiza Farhan (Indonesia).
The 66th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Presentation Ceremonies will be held on 16 November 2024 at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila, Philippines where this year’s recipients will formally receive their respective Ramon Magsaysay Award medallion and certificate. The Presentation Ceremonies will be livestreamed on the Ramon Magsaysay Award’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.