HOLD MY HAND II Quarterly Report Q4FY23 (Final revision)

The project is implemented by the Institute of Population, Health, and Development (PHAD) in collaboration with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and aims to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities in Binh Dinh, Kon Tum, and Quang Nam provinces. During this quarter, the project focused on various activities, including formal care for hospitalized patients, GBV training for care mentors, referral to specialist hospitals for persons with mental health problems, ADL device support to persons with mobility disabilities, HBC service for follow-up cases, and app pilot for caregiver self-learning of care skills and case management. These activities have benefited 2,198 persons with disabilities, including 1,281 males and 917 females. The project conducted re-training for 31 key nurses of 10 health facilities, who were involved in formal care activity. A total of 84 nurses participated in this activity, including TOT training by health facilities. Additionally, 545 caregivers were trained and participated in the formal care activity, including 345 females and 200 males. The project also organized a referral for 85 persons with mental health problems to Binh Dinh Psychiatric Hospital for assessment, consultation, and prescription. Following the ADL assessment, 515 persons with disabilities in all target districts received ADL devices, including wheelchairs, bath & shower chairs, etc. In mid-September, HMH II began launching an app for case management and caregiver self-learning care skills, with about 800 users expected to participate in the testing period. The project has developed a holistic care model that addresses health, nutrition, and protection needs and supports persons with disabilities to develop their independent living skills. The HMH Activity has provided care for hundreds of persons with disabilities since 2019, contributing to the relief of the care burden of family members, improving care skills, and reducing care hours. The project has created a force of state and community caregivers and developed a training curriculum for care skills. The HMH-II Activity aims to follow in the footsteps of HMH-I to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities through strengthening care and social assistance for persons with significant disabilities in Binh Dinh, Kon Tum, and Quang Nam provinces. The project will develop a sustainable workforce for care and social support services, improve the quality of care and social assistance services, and provide assistive devices for persons with significant disabilities. The project has received approval and is being implemented from September 1st, 2021, to November 30th, 2023. The HMH-II Activity will develop financing models for care services to diversify delivery sources for care systems and strengthen care and social assistance services governance by standardizing care training packages and ICT tools. The project has made significant progress in improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities, and the HMH-II Activity will continue to build on this progress to achieve its objectives.