Final Report: The Training Course on Speech Therapy

The course was organized by Pham Ngoc Thach Medical University in collaboration with the Institute of Population and Health & Development (PHAD) and Center for Sustainable Health Development (VietHealth), with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The course aimed to support the capacity development of speech therapists for healthcare workers and teachers providing services for children with disabilities and language disorders in Binh Dinh, Quang Nam, Tay Ninh, Dong Nai, and Binh Phuoc provinces. A total of 43 students, including 18 from the PHAD project and 25 from the DISTINCT project, participated in the training course. The course consisted of four semesters, with each semester lasting 10 weeks. The first semester focused on foundation theory of pediatrics, while the second semester involved clinical practice at hospitals and health centers in Ho Chi Minh City. The third semester provided specialized knowledge in pediatric therapy, and the fourth semester focused on skills and attitudes for working with parents and managing the working environment. The training course included 520 theory units, 384 practice units, and 120 graduation exam units, totaling 1,024 units. The first semester had a 34% failure rate, with 11 students failing in the Lifelong Communication subject. The second semester saw 44 students complete the clinical practice, with one student required to practice again. The third semester had a 100% pass rate, with all students completing the semester after three exams. The fourth semester provided students with skills and attitudes for working with parents and managing the working environment. The training course was conducted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with some subjects taught online in the first semester. The course was completed on April 30, 2021, with 44 students eligible to receive certificates. Five students graduated with excellent results, including three from the PHAD project and one from the VietHealth project. The training course was a success, with all students completing the course and receiving certificates.