HOLD MY HAND II Quarterly Report Q3FY23 (Final revision)

The activity addresses health, nutrition, and protection needs and supports persons with disabilities to develop their independent living skills by improving home accessibility and changing a family's attitude towards persons with disabilities. Since 2019, the HMH Activity 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 leading to positive impact and reducing care hours. The HMH II Activity received approval in August 2021 with an effective date of implementation from September 1st, 2021 to November 30th, 2023. The activity focuses on five specific objectives: improving care and social assistance services for approximately 2,600 persons with severe disabilities, developing a sustainable workforce for care and social assistance services, improving independent living of approximately 200 persons with disabilities through the provision of assistive devices, improving finance for care systems, and strengthening care and social assistance services governance. During this quarter, the HMH II project continued to provide home-based care, assessed ADL device needs, organized social activities, and started implementing formal care activities in hospitals and health districts. There are 51 new persons with disabilities receiving HBC services in this quarter. In total, to June 2023, a total of 2,682 persons with disabilities received HBC services in all target provinces, including Tuy Phuoc, Phu Cat, Hoai Nhon (Binh Dinh province), Thang Binh district (Quang Nam province), and Kon Ray district (Kon Tum province). PWDs were monitored and evaluated after 03 months of receiving support from the project. An assessment of ADL device needs and home modification for 600 persons with disabilities in 04 target districts in Binh Dinh Province, 01 districts in Quang Nam Province, and 01 district in Kon Tum Province were also conducted from April to June. Besides, to celebrate Vietnam's Day of Persons with Disabilities, in collaboration with PHAD and local partners, CRS organized a social event at Phu Cat district. 503 people from Tuy Phuoc, Phu Cat, and Quy Nhon City attended this event with 292 PWDs. Hoai Nhon district also organized another similar event with more than 70 participants from 14/17 communities, including 44 PWDs. In mid-April, the project trained 35 nurses from 11 health facilities in Binh Dinh province in preparation for formal care activities. This activity was launched at these health facilities in partnership with the Traditional Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital in Binh Dinh province in June 2023. The project team of PHAD and CRS conducted the following activities during this reporting period: care needs assessment, home-based care services, ADL device needs assessment, and social activities. The HMH II Activity has made significant progress in achieving its objectives. The project has provided care services to 2,682 persons with disabilities, assessed ADL device needs for 600 persons with disabilities, and started implementing formal care activities in hospitals and health districts. The project has also organized social events to celebrate Vietnam's Day of Persons with Disabilities and trained nurses from 11 health facilities in Binh Dinh province. The HMH II Activity has a strong focus on sustainability and has developed a sustainable workforce for care and social assistance services. The project has also improved the quality of care and social assistance services and provided assistive devices for persons with significant disabilities. The project has also developed financing models for care services to diversify delivery sources for care systems and strengthened care and social assistance services governance by standardizing care training packages and ICT tools. The HMH II Activity has a geographic focus on Binh Dinh, Kon Tum, and Quang Nam provinces in Vietnam. The project has a time frame of September 1st, 2021 to November 30th, 2023. The project has a budget of $720,440.21 and is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Fixed Amount Award (FAA) No. 72044021FA00002.