Visiting the Social Protection Center of Bac Lieu province, there is a special “classroom.” The learners are elderly people with disabilities or experiencing strokes and health problems, among others. VNAH technicians have transformed these specialized therapy sessions into meaningful group activities like a real classroom. This approach not only fosters community integration but also provides spiritual support for people with disabilities, empowering them to overcome physical pains of illnesses.
Bringing joys
Every week, Ms. Nguyen Thuy Duy, a technician from VNAH, visits the social protection center to conduct therapy sessions for people with disabilities. Duy, a graduate in occupational therapy from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City, performs therapeutic techniques at home, medical centers, and schools through VNAH projects. One of her most meaningful tasks is to conduct early diagnosis and intervention for children with disabilities, giving them the opportunity to develop.
The therapy sessions, led by Duy at the center in Bac Lieu province, are filled with laughter and a joyful and happy atmosphere. The room is conveniently located next to the rehabilitation area, which is equipped with modern facilities. At the facility’s mess hall, VNAH technicians and volunteers conduct special therapy sessions, helping people with disabilities recover while engaging in interactive community activities.
Ms. To Hong Nguyen, Director of the Social Protection Center in Bac Lieu province, shared that the Center has received essential equipment, including televisions, refrigerators, machines, physiotherapy devices, and medical supplies, among others. Additionally, the center’s workforce has been well trained to enhance the healthcare quality. However, the center has only one doctor and a team lacking specialized rehabilitation skills; therefore, “without the help of benefactors and organizations, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish this,” Nguyen affirmed.
No one is left behind
Thuy Duy believes that what she and her colleagues at VNAH are doing not only helps people with disabilities to integrate into the community but also encourages them to recognize their true abilities and value of life. “The work teaches young people like me to know how to sympathize with other people,” added Thuy Duy.
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Taking care of children with disabilities |
The Social Protection Center in Bac Lieu province has become an unforgettable destination for students from the Rehabilitation Engineering Department at Hong Bang International University in Ho Chi Minh City. Through VNAH, they spent two weeks at the center, implementing volunteer work and participating in therapeutic support and care activities for people with disabilities.
Mr. Tran Van Ca, Chairman of VNAH held that there is a high demand for rehabilitation services for people with disabilities in the provinces of Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, and other Southern localities. However, local resources remain limited. Local authorities actively support both domestic and international organizations, including VNAH, to aid people with disabilities, especially victims of Agent Orange. To ensure no one is left behind, the DIRECT project is supporting the Ministry of Health to update information.
The projects funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are scheduled to complete in two years, yet VNAH’s journey for people with disabilities continues. Mr. Tran Van Ca shared that he plans to return to the U.S. and visit several countries to raise funds, aiming to provide support for those in need in Vietnam.
Translated by Minh Anh