Speeches Shim
Air pollution has become a significant concern for people living in Vietnam’s biggest cities due to its impacts on health, particularly for children. To address this, on November 27, USAID’s Clean Air Green Cities project teamed up with Hanoi’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the German Cooperation Agency (GIZ) to organize a workshop that focused on the significance of multi-stakeholder collaboration. The workshop, which was attended by 150 representatives from government agencies, private sector institutions, non-governmental organizations, and research institutes, highlighted key results of air quality related projects in Hanoi.
Vietnam is a leading consumer of endangered species including rhino horn, pangolin scales, ivory, and tiger bone. Research conducted by TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring network, identified businesspeople in particular as a key rhino horn user group. On November 23-24, USAID and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized a two-day workshop in Central Vietnam to combat illegal wildlife consumption.
On November 12, following two and half years of advocacy from USAID’s Healthy Markets project, the Government of Vietnam (GVN) approved a decree allowing non-health professionals to provide and charge for HIV testing services in community settings, including civil society organizations and social enterprises led by key populations at risk of HIV. This landmark decision makes Vietnam the first country in Asia, and among few in the world, to enable community-based HIV testing services for a fee. Community-based testing has been shown to be more effective at reaching those most at risk of HIV than conventional testing, and the GVN has committed to scale-up these services.
“One Health” provides a coordinated approach to counter emerging infectious disease threats at the interface of animal, human and environment health. Universities play a key role in an integrated One Health approach by bringing together disciplines such as medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, and environmental and ecosystem health to more effectively address emerging zoonotic infectious disease challenges. Earlier this week, with USAID support, the Southeast Asia One Health University Network (SEAOHUN) held its 2018 International Conference at Hanoi Medical University, which was attended by more than 300 participants from 12 countries.
Quang Tri, a province in the North Central Coast of Vietnam, has high disability prevalence. The provincial government has estimated that there are 37,000 persons with disabilities in the province, but the actual number is believed to be higher. According to Quang Tri authorities, there are about 3,610 families that have two members with disabilities; 874 families that have three members with disabilities, and almost 500 families have four members with disabilities. Last week, USAID launched a new three-year $1.9 million project Quang Tri, marking USAID support for persons with disabilities for the first time in the province. In addition to providing legal counselling, community reintegration support, and women’s reproductive health services, the project will also help enhance disability rights advocacy in the province and build local capacity in implementing Vietnam’s disability law and policies.
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