MCNV FOR INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT

Under the support of the Inclusion IIb project, 28 healthcare workers from Gia Lai and Quang Ngai province have completed two 9-month basic training courses in Occupational Therapy (OT) and Speech and Language Therapy (SALT). The graduation ceremony, held on August 27, 2026, was attended by Dr. Le Quang Hung – Director of the Gia Lai Department of Health, Dr. Do Ngoc Hoa – Deputy Director of the Quang Ngai Department of Health, Dr.Pham Thi Cam Hung – Vice Rector of Hai Duong Medical Technical University (HMTU), Dr.Vu Dinh Tuyen – Head of the Department of Training Management, HMTU, HMTU lecturers and leader from the Quy Nhon Hospital of Traditional Medicine and Rehabilitation, representatives from MCNV, and all 28 course participants. Organized by MCNV in partnership with Hai Duong Medical Technical University under the Inclusion IIb Project, the courses blended online theoretical instruction with hands-on clinical practice. At the ceremony, trainees reflected on their learning journey and shared their plans for the future. “These nine months have been a deeply meaningful journey. Step by step, we mastered the core principles and practices of OT—from patient assessment and intervention planning to guiding patients through activities of daily living and social reintegration. Every patient has unique needs; being an OT practitioner takes clinical skills, patience, and true empathy. While this course has ended, it marks the beginning of a new chapter as we put these skills into practice to elevate patient care.”  (Mr. Nguyen Quoc Toan, Vinh Thanh Medical Center, Gia Lai Province — OT Class Representative) “Moving forward, we are committed to applying these newly acquired skills directly to our clinical work. We look forward to sharing knowledge with our colleagues, guiding families through home-based care, and joining multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams across healthcare facilities and community programs.”  (Dr.Nguyen Thi Quyen, Ngoc Hoi Area General Hospital, Quang Ngai Province – SALT Class Representative) Beyond applying their new competencies to daily practice, the graduates expressed a strong drive to pursue advanced training in the future. Their goal remains clear: to deliver high-quality rehabilitation services that empower patients to live independently, rebuild confidence, and fully reintegrate into their communities. About the Inclusion IIb Project: Donor: United States Government Project Owner: National Action Centre for Toxic Chemicals and Environmental Treatment (NACCET) Managing Partner: Humanity & Inclusion Vietnam (HI) Implementing Partner: MCNV is one of the implementing partners, responsible for rehabilitation workforce capacity building activities

The second cohort of Bachelor in Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) and the third cohort of Bachelor in Occupational Therapy (OT) graduated from Hai Duong Medical Technical University (HMTU) today (August 12, 2026). Mr. Pham Dung, Chief of MCNV Representative Office, attended the ceremony. (From the left) HMTU new cohorts of BSALT and BOT graduates receive congratulatory gifts from Mr.Pham Dung, Chief of MCNV Representative Office. With funding from the U.S. Government via Humanity & Inclusion Vietnam and VietHealth, MCNV supported the university during the 2015–2022 period to develop its faculty to master’s degree level and above, design curricula, compile training materials, provide equipment, implement Bachelor of Rehabilitation Technology degree programs specializing in OT and SALT, and build professional networks for these two disciplines. From 2023 to the present, MCNV has maintained its support for partner universities, including HMTU, in consolidating their OT and SALT Bachelor programs (in collaboration with technical partner Trinh Foundation Australia). From having no formal degree programs in these two fields prior to 2015, HMTU has now successfully graduated 3 cohorts of OT students and 2 cohorts of SALT students, totaling 65 bachelor’s degree holders. In February 2026, the Bachelor of OT program was officially approved as meeting the educational standards of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). “What I appreciated most during my OT studies was the dedicated guidance from our lecturers—from clearly explaining core OT concepts and detailing advanced specialized knowledge, to sharing reference materials and clinical expertise. We also received incredibly practical support from MCNV across many areas, including clinical practice equipment, workshops, short courses, and highly beneficial professional development sessions with local and international experts.” (Le Thi Phuong Anh, BOT, Top Graduating Student (Class of 2026) “With support from MCNV, we had the opportunity to learn and complete clinical placements alongside SALT experts from Australia. Throughout this process, we gained clinical skills, learned how to communicate effectively with patients and their families, set therapeutic goals, and tailor intervention plans to meet each individual’s needs!” (Le Thi Thu Uyen, BSALT, Top Graduating Student (Class of 2026) MCNV is proud to witness the continued growth of these OT and SALT cohorts, marking yet another milestone in the education and development of these emerging disciplines. *Earlier, on August 11, 2026, the 2nd Rehabilitation Scientific Conference (Academic Year 2026–2027) was organized by the HMTU Faculty of Rehabilitation. Mr. Pham Dung, Country Director of MCNV Vietnam, attended the event as the Chief Judge. At the event, 11 high-quality presentations across 3 core disciplines (PT, OT, and SALT) were delivered through oral presentations and poster sessions.These presentations stem from rigorous academic research and clinical internships completed at key hospitals, including 108 Military Central Hospital, Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi Rehabilitation Hospital, and Hai Duong Rehabilitation Hospital. A wide variety of rehabilitation research topics were presented, focusing on patients with neck and shoulder syndrome, lumbar disc herniation, stroke patients and their caregivers, speech disorders, aphasia, and communication characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy, among others./.

MCNV is looking for two new members of the Supervisory Board, one regular member and one member serving as financial expert. If you are interested, please send your resume and motivation letter to the following email, clearly stating your preferred position to MCNVamsterdam@mcnv.nl Deadline:  September 11, 2026

QTO — For over 50 years, the Medisch Comité Nederland – Vietnam (MCNV) has left an indelible mark on Quang Tri through countlessly impactful projects. On the occasion of launching a new project to support women of ethnic minority in Huong Lap and Huong Phung communes, the Quang Tri Newspaper, Radio and Television conducts an interview with Mr. Pham Dung, Chief of MCNV Representative Office in Vietnam. Empowering Women Question (Q): Recently, a project titled “Promoting sustainable livelihoods to improve food security for poor ethnic minority women in Quang Tri province” (the PRO-POOR project) was launched by MCNV. Could you tell us more about this initiative? Answer (A): The PRO-POOR project is funded by MCNV and implemented in partnership with the Quang Tri Department of Foreign Affairs. Spanning 36 months in Huong Lap and Huong Phung communes, it has a total budget of €600,000 (roughly 18 billion VND). Our goal is to improve livelihoods, boost incomes, and enhance food security for poor ethnic minority women—ultimately lifting the overall quality of life across Quang Tri’s mountainous communities. Q: What inspired MCNV to put ethnic minority women at the heart of this project? A: Ethnic minority women bear the heaviest burden of poverty, food insecurity, and climate change. Yet, they play a vital role in keeping family finances afloat and nourishing the next generation. Our field surveys in Huong Lap and Huong Phung showed that women are not only primary breadwinners, but they also carry the major share of household chores and caregiving duties. Despite their critical role, they face steep hurdles in accessing capital, agricultural training, and market information, and they rarely have a seat at the table when key family or community decisions are made. At MCNV, we firmly believe that investing in women is one of the most effective ways to break the cycle of poverty. When women gain the knowledge, skills, and resources to build sustainable livelihoods, they gain a stronger voice in financial decisions at home—leading to greater investment in their children’s health, education, and nutrition. These positive changes don’t stop at the doorstep; they ripple across the whole community. That is why PRO-POOR aims to do more than just boost incomes—it strives to elevate women’s leadership, position, and influence in local economic development. Decades of Steadfast Support Q:PRO-POOR isn’t a standalone project; it’s a part of MCNV’s nearly 60-year journey with Quang Tri. Looking back, what stand out to you as MCNV’s most meaningful contributions? A: For MCNV, PRO-POOR is not just a project—it is the hallmark of a relentless, 50-plus-year journey alongside Quang Tri. MCNV was founded in 1968 by a group of Dutch doctors driven to provide medical relief to war-affected Vietnamese people. Our connection with Quang Tri officially began in 1974, marked by helping the province build its very first general hospital. Since 1990, we have deepened this collaboration through a wide array of programs in healthcare, education, social inclusion, and community development. While we support communities as a whole, we prioritize vulnerable and marginalized groups—specifically persons with disabilities, people living in poverty, ethnic minorities, women, and children. What truly defines MCNV’s work […]