Physical Health Vietnam Project #19365

Bring Safe Water to School Kids in Vietnam

by MEDRIX

Project Report | Sep 14, 2016
Safe Water and Community Education in Rural Vietnam Now Under Way!

By Alicia Moore | Project Leader

Parents and their kids at Phu Xuan preschool

Summer is almost gone and it's time for kids to head back to school! MEDRIX has committed to installing 31 LifeStraw safe water systems in preschools and clinics in rural Vietnam this year, and thanks to your generosity, the installation will begin NEXT WEEK! But we don't stop at installing necessary equipment like drinking and handwashing stations: we believe that community education is the real key to promoting health and happiness.

MEDRIX and the Center for Preventative Medicine of Thua Thien-Hue Province in Central Vietnam are committed to providing community outreach and education efforts into the most rural villages in order to stop waterborne illnesses and emergency situations. We pair our education workshops with installation of safe water systems to create an immediate change in the communities that need it most. Throughout August and early September, we've been sponsoring workshops throughout Thua Thien-Hue Province for parents and community members to learn more about how to prevent disease, illness and how to treat emergency situations such as drowning and learning CPR.

Our dedicated partners Dr. Tu and Dr. Thao have been facilitating the workshops, creating relationships with many parents, and as you'll see below, having some fun as well! Relationships like these are key to cultivating trust within the community and creating long-term change: parents will be more trusting, and invite MEDRIX and our partners to hold more workshops in the future. Ultimately, this most benefits young kids like the ones pictured in this report as they grow up making healthy choices. Their parents also will have new knowledge of hygiene, sanitation and how to help kids in the community by implementing CPR when needed. This education creates a cycle of sustainability that will change the face of health in these villages for generations to come.

We've included some great pictures in this report to give you, our generous donors, an inside look on the education efforts made in rural communities. Next up will be the installation of 31 safe water systems right before school starts again! All of these things wouldn’t be possible without you! Our supporters make a real difference in these communities in Central Vietnam, and the impact will continue far into the future. We sincerely thank you for partnering with MEDRIX to benefit kids and families in Vietnam!

Kids play at Phong Chung preschool in My Phu, VN

Checking older water systems: still working!

Dr. Thao joins kids for lunch after workshop!

More parents and kids at Phu Xuan preschool

MEDRIX education handout for parents

Parents learn CPR from MEDRIX handout

Links:

Check out the MEDRIX Blog for up-to-date project updates!

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Aug 2, 2016
Summer Is Here--Water Systems Installed in Vietnam

By Alicia Moore | Project Leader

Summer is finally here! Kids are excited to have a break from school, but no school also means that they might not have easy access to something that we often take for granted: safe drinking water. In rural Vietnam, there are many obstacles to accessing safe water to drink and cook with. It is time-consuming and can be expensive to ensure that families have the fuel, such as firewood, that is needed to boil water until it is safe for consumption. A family could spend all day boiling the amount of water needed to cook meals and stay properly hydrated in the hot summer months. Additionally, all that smoke negatively affects the environment and the respiratory health of people, especially young children.

Thanks to your generous donation, MEDRIX is able to sponsor the installation of 31 LifeStraw safe water systems in preschools, primary schools and health clinics throughout rural areas of Thua Thien-Hue Province, Vietnam. Even when school's out, local clinics remain a hub for activity. Safe water systems placed strategically throughout the community gives local people the opportunity to easily access drinking water that is free from bacteria and waterborne illnesses. The water systems placed at the schools will provide local kids with regular access to safe water, keeping them healthy and hydrated in the hot months.

The water systems that MEDRIX and our partners have chosen through the company LifeStraw meet the highest standards for the EPA, the World Health Organization and the health standards of the government of Vietnam. Installation will be complete in the next few weeks, so please make sure to check our website and Facebook page for more updates and new photos! The installations will be followed up by community health workshops throughout Central Vietnam to reinforce safe water and hygiene standards that are necessary for health and reduce the spread of GI and waterborne diseases. Over time, practicing health habits like frequent hand washing and drinking only safe water will become routine, and rural communities will see fewer preventable diseases and illnesses. Kids will be able to stay in school instead of frequently being sick from diarrheal illnesses caused by waterborne bacteria.

All of these things wouldn't be possible without your support! Your donation has made a real difference in these communities in Central Vietnam, and the impact will continue far into the future. We sincerely thank you for your support!

Kids learn hand washing

Learning to use soap and wash hands

Health poster in preschool in TT Hue, Vietnam

Links:

What We Do: Safe Water Development

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May 2, 2016
More Health Workshops Provided thanks to YOU!

By Alicia Moore | Project Leader

Dr. Tu introduces the course

Your donations have helped our partners in Vietnam to provide training workshops all over Thua Thien-Hue Province, and another round of workshops has been completed! 66 preschools teachers and at least 150 parents and community members were recently trained in rescue breathing, drowning and choking hazards, and other common community health concerns. The teachers and facilitators are very thankful for your continued support that changes lives every day in Vietnam!

The teachers commented that they are very serious about the community health concerns being presented, and that the course material was clear and useful. They also commented,

"Facilitators are responsible team, good training method; prepare good teaching material and suitable to the participants. They also lead the class practically. The presentation is well designed, easyto understand so that the preschool teacher can use for their health education training program...The teachers also know why and how to keep the toilet clean, help children with personal hygiene ( apply the procedure for handwashing with soap, facial washing, bathing for the small children); Teachers were also trained how to prevent the GI diseases related to unsafe water and environment sanitation."

Summer is on it's way, and your donations will help our partners in Vietnam with the purchase and installation of safe water drinking sytems in many preschools and health clinics! Kids and their families will have access to safe water for drinking during the hot summer months and be able to stay healthy and hydrated. The water systems that MEDRIX and our partners have chosen meet the highest standards for the EPA, the World Health Organization and the health standards of the government of Vietnam. Projects like these wouldn't be possible without your support, and we sincerely thank you!

MEDRIX is installing LifeStraw water systems

Links:

MEDRIX Water Projects

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