The conference, chaired by Mr. Tran Duc Hung, Deputy General Director of NACCET, was an opportunity for stakeholders to review the results achieved in 2024. Attending the conference were representatives of project management units: Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP), HI organization, CRS organization, project implementing partners and representatives of relevant departments, agencies and sectors from 7 project beneficiary provinces: Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, Binh Dinh, Kon Tum, Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai and 3 provinces expected to participate in the project in the next phase: Quang Ngai, Ca Mau and Bac Lieu.
Representatives of the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs also attended and spoke at the conference. The Central and local Associations of Agent Orange Victims, the Vietnam Federation of Disabled Persons, organizations of disabled persons, experts and suppliers in the field also attended the conference.
With the goal of supporting the improvement of the quality of life of people with disabilities in provinces heavily sprayed with Agent Orange, in the past year, the INTEGRATION Project has supported rehabilitation interventions for 6,000 people with disabilities; supported care for 6,500 people with disabilities; trained 800 doctors and technicians; and more than 5,000 family members and caregivers. More than 5,000 households have been supported to develop sustainable livelihoods, helping families of people with disabilities improve their quality of life.
The discussions were lively with many positive contributions, revolving around three key topics of the project: Livelihood support, sustainability of rehabilitation activities, and sustainability of support activities for families of people with disabilities. Mr. Tran Duc Hung, Deputy General Director of NACCET shared: “The Integration Project has brought about practical changes, significantly improving the quality of life of people with disabilities. We recognize the need to maintain and replicate these models and approaches, and hope that provinces will develop plans to integrate proven methods into local health systems to ensure long-term sustainability.”
There are approximately 6.2 million people with disabilities in our country, accounting for more than 7% of the population. In some localities, people with disabilities still face many difficulties in accessing comprehensive rehabilitation and social services, hindering their participation and integration into society. The INCLUSION project, funded by USAID and led by NACCET, expands health and rehabilitation support services, social services, strengthens social integration support, improves community attitudes towards the rights and policies of people with disabilities, and ensures social integration of people with disabilities. The project is implemented from 2021 to 2026 with a total estimated budget of 65 million USD.
