Speeches Shim
On June 2, USAID’s Moving Without Limits project, the International Center (IC), and Hanoi Medical University (who provide the best rehabilitation doctor training in the country) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work together to upgrade the existing rehabilitation doctors and specialists training program, based on internationally-recognized, professional competency standards. The Ministry of Health will also be involved in the process through the Administration of Science Technology and Training, the Medical Services Administration, rehabilitation training universities, and rehabilitation service provision facilities.
Since its launch in 2017, FUV has made great strides in Vietnam’s higher education system reform – it is the country’s first fully independent non-profit university. Applications for spots in the Class of 2024 jumped by 240 percent since last year, and the USAID-supported FUV has made the decision to expand enrollment to 170 from the initially planned 120 incoming students. COVID-19 has fuelled interest in the university, as Vietnamese families that would normally be seeking education overseas are switching to Vietnam-based options. More applications have broadened the pool and this year’s candidates averaged a 3.8 GPA and 1390 SAT score.
Vietnam is one of the largest destinations and transit points of illegal wildlife trade. In 2019, more than 200 cases of wildlife protection violations were recorded, including the seizure of 2.8 tons of pangolin scales and 600 kgs (1322 lbs) of ivory at Hai Phong Port in January; 9.1 tons of ivory at Danang’s Tien Sa Port in March; and 125 kgs (275 lbs) of rhino horns at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport in July. Over the last decade, Vietnam has seen a dramatic increase in the illegal trade and consumption of rhino horn and ivory from Africa as well as increased consumption of pangolins, big cats, and other endangered species. Given the scope of the problem, it is essential to equip frontline enforcement officials, such as customs officers and forest rangers, with professional skills to prevent, detect, and handle wildlife protection violations so they can perform their duties properly.
USAID’s Raising Voices, Creating Opportunities project, implemented by the Action for Community Development Center (ACDC) - a local NGO, aims to improve public attitude towards PWDs and advocates for disability rights and equal access to transportation and health facilities in Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, and Quang Nam provinces. Since 2019, USAID and ACDC have been collaborating with the Ministry of Transportation’s (MOT’s) Transport Development and Strategy Institute to develop a Universal Design Criteria to ensure physical access to public transportation for PWDs, children, and others with special needs including the aging population in Vietnam.
In Vietnam, the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment (LET) has been implemented for the past 10 years with only two simple references to rehabilitation services for PWDs, which has created barriers for PWDs to access medical and rehabilitation services. To address this, on June 2, USAID’s Disabilities Rights Enforcement, Coordination, and Therapies (DIRECT) project supported Vietnam’s Ministry of Health to organize a public consultation to enforce rehabilitation as part of the health care system; strengthen rehabilitation human resource development by expanding rehabilitation services to include occupational and speech therapies; and include assistive technology/devices as one of the essential elements of rehabilitation services.
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