Health care for 3000 low-income workers in Vietnam

After a period of suspension for the implementation of social spacing to prevent the Covid-19 at the request of the Vietnamese government, the project was restarted on May 26 with a two-day training course. The training course aims to provide information to 40 trade union officials and health workers of 20 enterprises in Hai Phong in skills provision of information (for workers) on reproductive health, maternity depression, and nutrition for women of reproductive age as well as children in the first 1,000 days of life.

After the training, as of July 6, 2020, 13 communications sessions were conducted at factories of companies including Aurora, Reginal Miracle International, Chilisin, Yazaky, Nomura Fortranco and Nhat Viet. These are all foreign-invested enterprises and most of them are located in two large industrial zones in Hai Phong, VSIP and Nomura.

Ms. D.T.P., trade's union chair of Aurora company, said that the project's activities are really practical for employees. According to Ms. Dong Thi Phuong, the project activities will help employees improve their health so that they can be assured of working as well as being able to produce and nurture healthy children while working at the company.

Ms. D.T.P.'s share is completely consistent with the number of people attending the communications sessions. Accordingly, although the project only aims to attract 150 participants/session, there are actually sessions to attract up to 330 participants.

According to the plan agreed by the For Vietnamese Stature Foundation with partners and donors, in July the project will prioritize to implement communication sessions on reproductive health, then continue to carry out the communication sessions on nutrition and maternity depression. For mobile reproductive health checkup and counseling activity, the parties have agreed not to implement in phase 4 due to the lack of sponsors as well ass partners responsible for the expertise.

Links:

• 'Do not rush to get married and give birth'
• Communications sessions attracted participants
• Effective contraceptives

Phase 4 of the Project "For mother and baby – For Vietnamese stature" was officially kicked off on March 2, 2020 in Hai Phong. The kick-off ceremony was held at the headquarters of Hai Phong Women's Union with a limited number of attendees to prevent the spread of Covid-19. 

Hai Phong Women's Union is partner and focal point to carry out the activities. However, with activities in industrial parks and factories, Hai Phong Women's Union will coordinate with Federation of Labour to increase efficiency. There are about 20 factories, concentrated mainly in two industrial zones, VSIP and Nam Cau Kien, which will participate in the project activities.

Like the previous phases, and as planned, the activities of phase 4 will include:

• Organize a training course for trade union officials and health staffs of enterprises on skills to provide information related to reproductive health, mental health and nutrition.
• Organize 20 communications sessions for employees on reproductive health, mental health and nutrition for women of reproductive age as well as their children in the first 1,000 days of life.
• Organize a contest for employees to learn about reproductive health, mental health and nutrition.

With regard to the mobile reproductive health checkup and counseling activity for female workers will be discussed further with the parties to find the most appropriate implementation. If this activity is implemented, Marie Stopes International organization will be in charge of professional and direct implementation.

In particular, in this phase, the project's beneficiaries and the community in general have the opportunity to access the mobile contraceptive and reproductive health care application called "NewChoice Reminder". The application is a place to provide accurate reproductive-sexual health information through available articles and expert's advice/answers. Information about contraception, especially oral contraceptive pills, is emphasized along with a daily reminder that is also integrated into the application. DKT International and the Golden Choice Company - two of the sponsors - are responsible for creating and operating the application.

Due to the effects of the Covid-19 epidemic, subsequent project activities will be postponed. In the meantime, For Vietnamese Stature Foundation (VSF) and the parties are discussing to find the most optimal solution in conducting the mobile reproductive health examination and counseling. Accordingly, the plan to organize individual counseling sessions and provide a number of on-site contraceptives, including condoms, oral contraceptive pills and implant, is being considered in response to the spread of Covid-19 epidemic (do not conduct a large-scale examination so there will be less risk of virus infection).

VSF is looking forward to continue to receive the attention and companionship of the sponsors for this project, especially with the mobile reproductive health examination and counseling activity for the present there is no official sponsor.

Links:

• 'Project to benefit female labourers in Hai Phong'