MCNV: Improving the quality of life of people with disabilities

For the past 37 years, Ms. Hoang Thi Tot (Khe Sanh town, Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province) has taken care of her child with cerebral palsy due to the effects of Agent Orange.

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In September 2023, she attended a 2-day training course on disability care skills. Here, Ms. Tot was instructed by experts on basic daily care skills for people with disabilities such as feeding assistance, hygiene care, fall prevention, etc. At the same time, she also listened to other caregivers share their experiences.

Ms. Tot said she has learned a lot of new knowledge and practical skills, making her daily care work easier.

Ms. Hoang Thi Tot (second from left to right) is practicing eye, nose, and ear hygiene for people with disabilities in the classroom. (Photo: MCNV).

The skills training course that Ms. Tot attended was part of the Integration Project 1, a component of the Project “Improving the quality of life of people with disabilities in provinces heavily sprayed with Agent Orange” in the Central region (abbreviated as Integration Project 1). The project was implemented by the Netherlands-Vietnam Medical Committee (MCNV), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the project owner was the National Action Center for Chemical and Environmental Consequences (NACCET) - Ministry of National Defense , and the project management unit was the Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP).

According to MSc. Dr. Tran Thu Thuy, Deputy Director of the Inclusion Project 1/MCNV, this is one of the outstanding projects implemented by MCNV from 2022 and especially promoted in the period 2023-2025. In 2023, the project will continue to be implemented in 3 provinces including Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam .

The main objectives of the project are to improve the capacity of rehabilitation staff at provincial, district and commune health facilities; provide rehabilitation services and care services for people with disabilities in the community and health facilities; and strengthen the capacity of the rehabilitation system in the project provinces. After more than 2 years of implementation, 1,760 people with disabilities have benefited from the project; 424 health workers have been trained.

Ms. Thuy said that in 2024, MCNV will continue to promote activities within the project framework but expand the implementation area in the project provinces and increase the number of beneficiaries.

In particular, the project will enhance training for health workers at the provincial, district and commune levels through organizing long-term courses (specialty 1 in rehabilitation), medium-term courses (6-9 months) and continuing training courses with practical topics, suitable for local needs. In addition, at medical facilities, MCNV will also continue to promote the model of providing multidisciplinary rehabilitation services. Currently, MCNV is supporting 16 medical facilities (including central hospitals, provincial hospitals and district health centers) in 3 provinces of Quang Tri, Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue to provide multidisciplinary services for stroke patients. “By promoting the above areas, MCNV hopes to contribute to the goal of improving the quality of life of people with disabilities in a sustainable manner. MCNV believes that when medical staff have good knowledge and professional skills, they will provide quality and comprehensive services, contributing to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities in the locality,” Ms. Thuy emphasized.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/mcnv-cai-thien-chat-luong-song-cua-nguoi-khuyet-tat-196483.html