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

The project's overall goal is to improve the inclusion of 2,000 persons with severe disabilities in the two provinces. The project has a specific objective to deliver home-based care for 600 persons with severe disabilities in Binh Dinh and Quang Nam province. Additionally, the project aims to strengthen 10 interdisciplinary rehabilitation service units at provincial and district hospitals in Binh Dinh province. The target beneficiaries of the project include rehabilitation staff in 10 rehabilitation units, persons with severe disabilities, caregivers, and home-based care collaborators. PHAD and CRS have collaborated closely to start up the project after obtaining approval from the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA). In the first quarter, the consortium team completed the development of all deliverables for Milestone 1, including the project work plan, MEL plan, home-based care model, and training curriculum outline for caregivers. The project also developed baseline and needs assessment protocols and is developing tools for these surveys. The project has established partnerships with central and provincial partners, including the Rehabilitation Department of the Ministry of Health and the Binh Dinh Province Department of Health. PHAD and CRS have also connected with various stakeholders, including existing USAID grantees, to discuss project collaboration and relevant rehabilitation professions and experience sharing. PHAD received project approval from VUSTA in March 2019, and after obtaining the approval, PHAD and CRS worked closely with Binh Dinh People's Committee and Binh Dinh DOH to complete project procedures and prepare for the project launching workshop in April 2019. The project launching workshop was held in Binh Dinh on April 11, 2019, and initial discussions were held with provincial departments of health in Quang Nam. The project has made progress in developing baseline assessment tools, diagnosis, home-based care protocols, and tools, as well as training materials for caregivers and home-based care collaborators. The project has also completed a literature review on home-based care models and is reviewing available videos on home-based care skills for people with disabilities and their caregivers. The project has established a partnership with Pham Ngoc Thach University (UPNT) for ST training and has met with UPNT to discuss details for student recruitment, training program, costs, and training procedures. PHAD has also discussed procedures with USAID and other IPs to collaborate with government-controlled educational institutions for delivering training services. The project has achieved several milestones, including the development of project work plan, MEL plan, and curriculum outline for home-based care training for caregivers and collaborators. The project has also completed office rental contracts, signed contracts with project staff, and developed baseline assessment tools and diagnosis, home-based care protocols, and tools.