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.

So What? Part of USAID’s work to create sustainable models for inclusion of persons with disabilities includes effectively enforcing Vietnam’s Law on Persons with Disabilities and the International Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, which Vietnam has ratified in 2014. Effective enforcement will enable persons with disabilities to lead more independent and fulfilling lives.