Activity
On 15–16 July 2024, the Action to the Community Development Institute (ACDC), in collaboration with the Department of Health, organized a professional training course on rehabilitation for 31 district- and commune-level health workers from Trieu Phong, Vinh Linh, and Cam Lo districts.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Ha Lam Chi, Deputy Director of the Department of Health, acknowledged the significance of the training:
“On behalf of the Department of Health, I highly appreciate ACDC’s achievements in successfully implementing many activities that support persons with disabilities (PWDs) and strengthen the capacity of health workers, generating positive results. Moving forward, I hope the project will continue to expand its activities for PWDs. For today’s training, I encourage all participants to engage actively and discuss how to develop the most effective community-based implementation strategies. We must focus on screening and assessing PWDs to include them in appropriate rehabilitation interventions, ensuring accurate diagnosis, proper care, and effective treatment outcomes.”
Participants receiving detailed guidance on assistive devices from Mr. Nguyen Khac Tuan – Lecturer, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Hai Duong Medical Technical University
Under the guidance of Mr. Nguyen Khac Tuan (Lecturer, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Hai Duong Medical Technical University), Ms. Cao Bich Thuy (Deputy Head, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy), and Mr. Nguyen Van Doan (Technical Manager, ACDC), participants consolidated and deepened their knowledge on a range of rehabilitation topics. These included occupational therapy (OT), multidisciplinary rehabilitation approaches, speech and language therapy (SLT), physical therapy (PT), and assistive devices.
In addition, participants practiced fabricating assistive devices using simple, locally available materials; conducting assessments and measurements for wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, and other devices; and applying their knowledge to real-life case scenarios.
Dr. T.V.T, Head of Cam Nghia Commune Health Station, shared:
“This course has been very interesting. Through the practical exercises on fabricating assistive devices, I realized that we can creatively make very useful tools for persons with disabilities using simple household materials.”
Small-group instruction on assistive devices for persons with disabilities, led by Mr. Nguyen Khac Tuan – Lecturer, Faculty of Rehabilitation
Dr. Tran Thi D. from the Traditional Medicine & Rehabilitation Department, Cam Lo District Health Center, also commented:
“The products from this practical session will be very beneficial for persons with disabilities. I will bring them back to my department to share and distribute to patients.”
This activity is part of the project “Improving the Quality of Life of Persons with Disabilities in Provinces Heavily Sprayed with Agent Orange” (short name: Inclusion 1 Project), being implemented in Thua Thien Hue, Quang Tri, and Quang Nam provinces during the 2023–2026 period. The project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and led by the National Action Centre for Toxic Chemicals and Environmental Treatment (NACCET) under the Ministry of National Defence. ACDC is one of the key implementing partners under the management of CCIHP.
