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On 25&26 May 2023, the Technical Advisory Board of the pilot model of Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation (Rehab) made a field visit to 3 out of 9 hospitals supported by Inclusion 1 project in 03 provinces of Quang Tri, Thua Thien – Hue and Quang Nam.

The three hospitals visited by the Technical Advisory Board were Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Quang Tri Traditional Medicine and Rehab Hospital and Quang Tri General Hospital.

The Multidisciplinary team (MDT) in rehab is a team of professionals that includes representatives of different disciplines (e.g; physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, nursing, etc). All team members coordinate to work toward a common goal of providing holistic care for patients/clients.

In Vietnam, MDT remains a new rehab approach, which is mostly available in central-level hospitals in big cities.

As an implementing partner of the Inclusion 1 Project, MCNV has established a Technical Advisory Board (TAB) to support 09 participating health facilities in three provinces of Quang Tri, Thua Thien – Hue and Quang Nam to improve capacity in providing MDT rehab services. The TAB comprises of experts from the country’s leading hospitals and medical universities with specialization in rehabilitation.

The supports have been provided in the format of case discussion via Telehealth platform and field visit.

During the visit, the TAB performed several tasks include: conducting examination on complicated cases; discussing on the next step of intervention for these cases by each disciplinary, the coordination of MDT in implementing intervention, review MDT services record.

Assoc.Prof.Dr.Luong Tuan Khanh (central), Director of the Rehabilitation Center, Bach Mai Hospital gives guidance to a rehab doctor of Quang Tri Traditional Medicine and Rehab Hospital.

Instructing on Occupational Therapy intervention in Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital.

Member of the Technical Advisory Board, Dr.Le Khanh Dien, Vice President of the Asia Pacific Society of Speech, Language and Hearing, conducts assessment on a stroke patient in Quang Tri Traditional Medicine and Rehab Hospital.

Meeting between Technical Advisory Board and MDT members of Quang Tri Traditional Medicine and Rehab Hospital.

Meeting between Technical Advisory Board and MDT members of Quang Tri General Hospital.

Meeting between Technical Advisory Board and MDT members of Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital.

From 13-17 March 2023, WWF- Vietnam collaborated with MCNV in organizing a study tour in Quang Tri province, aiming to explore the potentials of developing small and micro businesses that support nature conservation and improve local livelihoods.

The study tour brought together 75 Vietnamese and international participants, who visited a number of project sites of the PROSPER. More details of the study tour are available in the photobook titled “Growing value in Vietnam’s Forests”, published by the New Generation Plantation (NGP).

About NGP: NGP was created in 2007 by WWF, with the participation of a number of government forest departments and private companies that manage forest plantations. Over the years, it has evolved into a leading platform for sharing knowledge, best practices and collaborative learning about landscape restoration and forest plantations.

Chief of MCNV Office in Quang Tri, Mr.Nguyen Dinh Dai, shares with the delegates on the pilot model of biochar production using FSC bamboo material

On March 31^st 2023, the Management Board of the Project on Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation in Vietnam (VFBC) coordinated with MCNV to organize an exposure visit on the project model implemented by MCNV in Chenh Venh village, Huong Phung commune, Huong Hoa district.

This visit was an integrated activity of the 3^rd regular meeting of the Community Forest Management Network and the Forest Policy Support Group of the Sustainable Forest Management Component – VFBC project funded by USAID.

Participating in the exposure visit were representatives of Legal Department – Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, General Department of Forestry, Management Board of Forestry projects, representatives of Central VFBC Project Management Board and VFBC project management boards of seven provinces of Hoa Binh, Lao Cai, Nghe An, Quang Nam, Quang Tri, Son La and Thanh Hoa, and representatives of DAI and RECOFTC.

In Chenh Venh village, MCNV shared experiences with the delegates about good models and practices on enhancing sustainable forest management in association with livelihood development in mountainous communities that MCNV and its project partner, the Association of Smallholder Forest Certification Groups of Quang Tri, have implemented under the project “Promoting sustainable partnerships between CSOs and enterprises in sustainable forest management in the context of climate change” (referred to as PROSPER Project) co-financed by the European Union and MCNV in the period of 2/2020 – 2/2023.

The specific activities of the exposure visit included: Learning about the model of planting tung trees and native species on forest lands allocated to households; Visiting an FSC® certified bamboo biochar production facility; Visiting a community forest route and learning about the current status of community-based ecotourism services associated with the natural forest that has been FSC-certified for ecosystem services; and Enjoying the cuisine and traditional art performances of the Bru Van Kieu people.

The PROSPER project just ended in February 2023 and left several important marks. Most significantly, the project has helped five community-managed natural forests in the North Huong Hoa area, including Chenh Venh village (Huong Phung commune), Cat and Ho villages (Huong Son commune), Trang – Ta Puong village (Huong Viet commune) and Xa Bai village (Huong Linh commune), achieve FSC certification for ecosystem services for carbon sequestration and storage and FSC certification for non-timber forest products (bamboo species). Along with that are pioneering initiatives to promote the development of the supply chains of FSC certified products such as acacia wood, tung oil, bamboo biochar, black locust shampoo, dried bamboo shoots, eco-tourism, etc. Currently, MCNV is introducing the piloted models to potential donors, organizations and other related development projects to find opportunities to replicate and upscale these models./.

A publication based on MCNV’s works in Nong District (Savannakhet, Laos) give insights on the availability of nutrition for mothers and children under the age of two.

By: Sayvisene Boulom  MSc; PhD Candidate² ; Kokasia Nengmongvang.  MD¹; and Viengnakhone Vongxay  MD; MPH; PhD Candidate¹

1.Faculty of Public Health, University of Health Sciences, Lao PDR

2.Faculty of Agriculture, National University of Laos

Corresponding Author: viengnakhone_poom@yahoo.com

From 3rd to 8th of March, an event titled “Fruit Tech Innovation Days” (Ngày Công nghệ Trái cây Sáng tạo)” were organized in 4 provinces with more than 500 participants including advance farmers, cooperatives and companies, local authorities and expert in agricultural sector.

The event was launched as part of the “Improve Vietnam Tropical Fruits” project implemented by MCNV, the Vietnam Farmers’ Union under the support of the Netherlands government, technical and financial contribution from a consortium of EU and Vietnamese companies.

The key objectives of this project are improving cultivation techniques of dragon fruit, mango and pomelo farmers in Đồng Tháp, Long An, Bến Tre and Binh Thuận provinces and at the same time, support the SMEs and cooperatives in fruit sector to access to EU market.

The event provided a platform for the experts from Hollands, Vietnam Reseach Institutes and Companies to exchange their knowledge and information with farmers, export companies and cooperatives to find the best ways to improve cultivation practices and access to EU market for tropical fruits.

Eurofins Vietnam provides soil test service which help farmers deeply understand their own soil content so that they could adjust the use of fertilisers and water to best fit with what their crop needs. Yara Vietnam and Bayer Vietnam provide fertilizer and crop protection demo and trainings for farmers which help them save the production inputs and avoid the overuse thus lead to high residues in products in the  market. Khang Thinh company introduce water saving irrigation solution which is specially suitable for farmers who cultivate in dry and saline-intrusive area. 

Also at the event, ten potential local exporters have been selected for coming in-depth trainings which are aimed to help the trainees be prepared for accessing to EU and high-demand markets.

In the year 2022, project organized 13 technical training for more than 150 farmers and technical staff from related departments. There were 5 demo farms built with the supports from technical parners in 4 provinces.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Peter Prins, the chief technical adviser of the project shared: “Vietnamese farmers are very keen to gain more knowledge on soil management, fertilization and crop protection. In the past farmers tend to use more fertilizers, water or crop protection agents then required by the crop. However, overuse of input has a negative impact on the quality of the crops, for instance in terms of shelf life or the contamination with residues of chemical substances. With our project we show that less is better. At the end of the day the income of the farmers will be higher, by savings on inputs and better prices.  It is our goal to strengthen the export position of the Vietnamese farmers”.

“With regard to Dutch business community, I want to encourage them to invest in collaboration with Vietnamese businesses and to strengthen the economic relationships between companies in both countries. It is my sincere wish to contribute to development of agriculture in Vietnam”.

Vietnam Farmers Union and farmers highly appreciate the changes and benefits that resulted from this project. Farmers, local cooperatives and exporters look forward to coming collaboration and support from this project to help them produce better products that could be exported to EU and high-demand market in the near future./.