Vietnam

Mandate

Handicap International cooperates with the Vietnamese authorities to consolidate national methods, strategies and services in the field of rehabilitation care, social and economic inclusion and human rights. We aim to ensure the sustainability of the models that have been implemented in Vietnam in order to support the most vulnerable people.

Situation

The population of Vietnam is still suffering from the after-effects of war, due to the disabilities caused by injuries and unexploded instruments of war. We have also recently noted victims of congenital deformities caused by dioxin and other toxic products. The country also faces a series of modern challenges, including the HIV/AIDS epidemic, road accidents, and industrial accidents (factories, construction sites, etc). 15% of the Vietnamese population lives with disability.

Background 

Since 1989, in response to requests from national partners (ministries or provincial institutions), Handicap International has acted as a technical advisor in the implementation of projects focusing on prevention and rehabilitation of disabilities due to war, accidents, congenital defects, or disabling diseases.

Strategy: (2012 – 2014)

Road Safety: Handicap International has implemented a road safety project “Safe road 4 youths” (SR4Y”), , focusing on drinking and driving prevention, which will enter its third phase this year
Mother and Child Health Care: Handicap International will provide health services such as best practice for pre-conception care services, early detection and early intervention.
The HIV/AIDS project will reach its objectives in 2012 and its methodology will be duplicated and implemented in other provinces.
The Inclusive Education will be accomplished by early 2012. A new phase will be defined in which the model will be evaluated, improved and duplicated.

Beneficiaries

Persons living with spinal cord injuries
Pregnant women and children with disabilities
Road accidents’ victims
Vulnerable people living with HIV
Persons with disabilities, their families and caretakers, medical staff

Example

Handicap International continues to implement its ‘Safe roads for a better life’ road safety project. This project is structured around five main themes: educating children in schools about road safety and raising awareness of the issue among the public; helping the victims of road accidents by improving first aid; supporting efforts to strengthen the highway code; providing technical support to help reduce traffic blackspots; and finally, training road safety committees in overall road safety management (education, healthcare, prevention, compliance with the highway code and infrastructure).