USAID Vietnam Persons with Disabilities Support Program FY2015 Quarter 4 and Annual Performance Report

The program was implemented in three provinces: Danang, Binh Dinh, and Dong Nai. The program's primary focus was on capacity building, service quality improvement, and direct assistance to PWDs. In Danang, a total of 4,417 PWDs received assistance, including assistive devices, rehabilitation therapy, educational support, and livelihood support. Additionally, 1,884 disability-related service providers received training. The program exceeded its life-of-project targets for all seven key indicators, as reported in the monitoring section. The program made significant strides in social work case management, with a series of Training of Trainers (TOTs) conducted in social work/case management for PWDs. Advanced case management training was also provided to all case managers in Danang. The program established a network of 10 master trainers across the country and 15 experienced social work lecturers at Dong A University. In education, the program helped strengthen the foundation for inclusive education in Danang. Forty-four teachers completed 2nd BA training in special education, and several hundred teachers and parents received short-term training on working with children with disabilities. The Operations Manual for Resource Room and M&E tool kit for inclusive education were developed in collaboration with MOET's National Institution of Education Sciences. The program also established eight new resource rooms, making a total of 13 supported by PDSP since the beginning. Danang DOET's Directive (No. 3296/SDGDT/KHTC, dated Oct 17, 2014) enabled GVN financial and material support for education of CWD, and sustained educational models such as inclusive resource rooms initiated by PDSP. In public health systems strengthening, the program set up and fully operationalized Birth Defects Surveillance (BDS) services, including an information system at the Hospital for Women and Children (HWC). Service was expanded to two districts in Danang, Hai Chau and Cam Le, and linked with the case management system. The on-line information system linking the HWC with two pilot district health centers was set up in Nov 2015 and is now fully operational. The program also made significant progress in newborn screening, with the number of mothers receiving counseling increasing significantly, resulting in more babies being screened and treated. Preconception care was approved as part of Danang's overall Reproductive Health Care 2015 Plan and was successfully replicated in Dong Nai this year. The program's sustainability plan was designed by Danang DOLISA, DOH, and DOET, which includes sectoral plans to sustain and expand important PDSP models such as case management, resource rooms for inclusive education, and newborn screening. The Danang plan has been submitted to the People's Committee for approval, which is expected in late 2015.