Vietnam: Bildung als Schlüssel
Since its inception, empowering people to help themselves has been at the heart of Green Cross Switzerland’s mission. Education plays a crucial role in this process, as it equips individuals with the tools to improve their own lives and the lives of those around them. Unlike other forms of humanitarian or development aid, education has a long-lasting impact and aligns with Green Cross’s core commitment to sustainability.
In particular, education and training are vital components of our SOCMED programme in Vietnam (Social and Medical Care and Education). In remote rural areas, medical infrastructure is often severely lacking. As a result, disabilities in children frequently go unrecognized for too long, leading to serious and heartbreaking consequences throughout their lives. On the bright side, early intervention can significantly improve their living conditions and quality of life—benefiting not only the children but also their families and, ultimately, society as a whole. This is where we step in, offering Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) through the training of local health workers.
This summer, several training sessions were conducted in Yen Son district, Tuyen Quang. Two classes were held for community and district health workers, with 58 participants, led by three rehabilitation specialists from Huong Sen Hospital. Additionally, ten classes were organized for municipal employees, with a total of 335 participants.
The goal of these sessions is to teach and reinforce basic knowledge on the early detection and intervention for children with mental and physical disabilities within the community. It also focuses on mastering the necessary administrative and organizational processes.
A wide range of child development topics is covered, from birth to age 16. This includes early recognition and intervention for conditions such as cerebral palsy (including muscle stiffness and movement disorders), scoliosis (malformations), intellectual disabilities, speech disorders, autism, and clubfeet, as well as common secondary complications (pressure sores, joint stiffness, muscle contractures, and deformities).
The training also aims to raise broader community awareness about the needs of people with disabilities, as early detection is critical to providing effective support. In this context, another goal is to ensure that people with disabilities can participate fully in social activities. Sadly, many are still excluded from social life, and sometimes even family life.
