Sustainable and Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Services for Persons with Severe Disabilities in Binh Dinh and Quang Nam Provinces (Hold My Hand)

The project is implemented by the Institute of Population, Health and Development in collaboration with Catholic Relief Services. The overall goal of the program is to develop a sustainable and expandable model to improve societal inclusion of 2,000 persons with severe disabilities in Binh Dinh and Quang Nam provinces. The project has made significant progress in its first year of implementation. All necessary procedures have been completed to obtain approval from the central and provincial levels for program implementation in three districts of Binh Dinh and one district in Quang Nam province. The project was officially launched in Binh Dinh on April 11, 2019, and in Quang Nam on August 13, 2019. Baseline assessments were conducted in Binh Dinh and Quang Nam, collecting information on the needs of 2,819 persons with severe disabilities in Binh Dinh and 940 in Quang Nam. Training support was provided to 50 health staff and other sector participants through the launching workshop, baseline assessment training, and group discussions. Screening examinations were conducted for a total of 1,112 persons with severe disabilities in three districts in Binh Dinh province and Thang Binh district in Quang Nam province. The project has also completed a set of training materials for home-based care for persons with severe disabilities, which includes eight main parts covering 35 main skills divided into 42 lessons. The project team has conducted 41 training courses for 681 family caregivers and collaborators in Phu Cat, Tuy Phuoc, Tay Son districts in Binh Dinh province and Thang Binh district in Quang Nam province. In addition, 385 caregivers and HBCCs have received refresh training 1, focusing on HBC care and GBV activities. Regular monitoring visits have been conducted for 622 persons with severe disabilities, and 144 have been referred for either assistive devices or rehabilitation services at hospitals from all project districts. The project has also trained 109 health staff from commune, district, and provincial levels in both Quang Nam and Binh Dinh in gender-based violence (GBV) in relation to healthcare services provision to persons with disabilities. Collaboration has been established with MCNV and Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy to train 16 health staff from 13 hospitals at district and provincial levels in Binh Dinh in occupational therapy (OT). All 16 students completed the 12-month OT training course with certificates and good study results. The project has also collaborated with University of Pham Ngoc Thach to train 18 health staff from hospitals and educational centers in speech therapy (ST). These students will take graduation exams in April 2021. The project has made significant progress in its first year of implementation, and it is expected to continue making progress in the coming years. The project has a strong focus on gender equality and female empowerment, with a specific objective to strengthen 10 interdisciplinary rehabilitation service units at provincial and district hospitals in Binh Dinh province. The project has also established partnerships with various organizations, including MCNV, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, and University of Pham Ngoc Thach, to provide training and capacity-building support to health staff and other sector participants. The project has a clear plan for implementation, with specific objectives and activities outlined for each quarter. The project team has made significant progress in its first year of implementation, and it is expected to continue making progress in the coming years. The project has a strong focus on sustainability, with a specific objective to develop a sustainable and expandable model to improve societal inclusion of persons with severe disabilities in Vietnam. The project has a strong focus on lesson learned, with a specific objective to document and share lessons learned from the project. The project team has made significant progress in its first year of implementation, and it is expected to continue making progress in the coming years. The project has a clear plan for planned activities for the next quarter, including upcoming events and activities. The project has a strong focus on stakeholder participation and involvement, with a specific objective to strengthen 10 interdisciplinary