HOLD MY HAND II Quarterly Report FY23 – Quarter 1 (October 1st to December 31st2022)

The project focuses on five main objectives: improving care and social assistance services, developing a sustainable workforce, improving independent living, improving finance for care systems, and strengthening care and social assistance services governance. The project has developed a holistic care model addressing health, nutrition, protection needs, and supporting persons with disabilities in developing their independent living skills by improving home accessibility and changing family attitudes toward persons with disabilities. Since 2019, HMH has provided care for hundreds of persons with disabilities and contributed to the relief of the care burden of family members by improving care skills and reducing care hours. During the first quarter of FY23, the project team conducted various activities, including health screening examinations and care need assessments for persons with disabilities in Quy Nhon, Tuy Phuoc, and Phu Cat districts. The project also conducted care needs assessments for additional cases in 11 project communes, provided HBC mentoring for persons with disabilities and caregivers, and measured HBC monitoring and care outcomes for persons with disabilities in 15 communes. The project has supported Home-Based Care (HBC) for 1,858 persons with disabilities in four districts, with 901 new people with disabilities starting to receive HBC support in the first quarter of FY23. The project team also provided and assessed the use of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) devices for persons with disabilities in four districts. Additionally, the project organized a social connection event on the occasion of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities on December 3rd, 2022, in Binh Dinh province. The project has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, with 582 persons with disabilities participating in social events implemented by the project. The project has also developed a sustainable workforce for care and social assistance services, improved independent living for approximately 200 persons with disabilities through the provision of assistive devices, and improved finance for care systems. The project's implementation status indicates that the project team has conducted various activities, including health screening examinations, care needs assessments, HBC mentoring, and provision of assistive devices. The project has also organized a social connection event and conducted reflection meetings with care mentors, HBC supervisors, and local partners. The project's expected results include persons with severe disabilities receiving direct care services from the informal care and support workforce. The project has made significant progress in achieving this objective, with care needs assessments and health screening examinations conducted for persons with severe disabilities in 21 new communes and 15 existing communes. Overall, the HMH II project has made significant progress in improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities in Binh Dinh, Kon Tum, and Quang Nam provinces, Vietnam. The project's implementation status indicates that the project team has conducted various activities to achieve the project's objectives, and the project's expected results suggest that the project is on track to achieve its goals.