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“My daughter, Phuong An, was three years old, but she couldn’t walk, talk, or feed herself. While other children in our neighborhood were doing these things, my heart ached. We took her to the doctor, but couldn’t afford the treatment. Every day, I felt helpless and cried,” said Ms. Hoang Anh, a mother from Nam Dong district in Thua Thien Hue province.

Ms.Nguyen Thi Ha (Occupational Therapist) helps An practice feeding.

An has congenital brain damage, which affects her right side and makes it difficult for her to use her hand. She needs help from her parents with everyday things like getting washed and eating. She also has flat feet, which causes her to stumble often. Like all kids of her age, An yearns for the joy of playing on a slide or seesaw, however, her physical challenge make these seemingly simple activities out of reach.

Besides, her speech impairment, another result of brain damage, necessitates hand gestures for communication. Living in a remote mountain village with limited resources, access to rehabilitation services is a significant obstacle.

A turning point came in October 2023 when An became a beneficiary of the Inclusion 1 Project, which provides her with access to home-based multidisciplinary rehabilitation services, including physical, occupational, and speech and language therapy, tailored to her individual needs.

To help the little girl with her mobility, Physical Therapist instructed An to practice exercises like standing on one leg, sitting down and standing up, stretching her ankles, and strengthening her muscles. In coordination with the Occupational Therapist, these exercises were integrated into daily activities, like reaching for toys placed at various heights.

To refine An’s hand dexterity, Occupational Therapist employed therapeutic activities such as playing with clay, stacking blocks, and manipulating small objects. These exercises helped An develop a stronger grasp, preparing her for everyday tasks such as self-feeding, dressing, and brushing her teeth.

“It’s a big advantage for An to have a twin sister who understands her so well. Her sister can help An understand what the rehabilitation staff is trying to teach her,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha (Occupational Therapist).

Practicing recognizing animals (Speech and Language therapy)

To help An with her delayed speech, a Speech and Language Therapist did exercises to improve her pronunciation, sang songs, learned to name animals and colors in pictures, and gradually progressed to identifying animals and colors in real life.

At the same time, An’s parents were guided on how to help their child with appropriate exercises at home as part of the intervention. Following the advice of therapists, they make this a daily habit, lasting at least 15 minutes.

After 8 weeks of intervention, Phuong An has made remarkable progress. She can stand up and sit down more easily and walk more steadily with fewer falls. The improved balance allowed her to confidently join her classmates in playground activities.

Furthermore, she can also grasp objects firmly with her right hand, eat independently, and dress herself with more ease. Her communication skills evolved from relying on gestures and nods to accurately pronouncing animal names, distinguishing colors, and expressing her needs through short phrases.

Notably, An’s parents have become aware of the importance of allowing their child to be as independent as possible. Instead of being overly protective, they now let An do things herself, with minimal assistance provided when necessary.

Mutltidisciplinary rehabilitation services has helped An get closer to her dream.

An’s progress is not only a joy for her family but also a motivation for the multidisciplinary rehabilitation team.

“When I think back to the moments when An proudly showcased her drawings or the radiant joy in her parents’ eyes as they watched her independently feed herself or confidently walk into the classroom, my heart overflows with a sense of warmth and fulfillment” said Ms.Ha Nguyen, Occupational Therapist.

Le Quy Anh, 27 years old, is a resident of a rural village in Phu Loc district, Thua Thien Hue province. Once a bright and eager student, his world was turned upside down thirteen years ago, when a brain tumor left him paralyzed on one side.

His condition worsened significantly in late 2023. He lost complete use of his legs and arms, unable to perform simple tasks like bending, grasping, or holding objects. The constant, body-wide pain made even rolling over in bed a challenge. Beyond physical limitations, his cognitive abilities and communication skills also suffered. Simple conversations became arduous, as his speech was slow and unclear.

Completely reliant on his 54-year-old mother, the family’s sole provider, Quy Anh faced immense challenges. Their rural home, far from medical facilities, made accessing healthcare and rehabilitation services impossible. The constant pain, dependence, and isolation took a toll on his mental health.

Physical therapist is assisting Quy Anh with arm strengthening exercises.

Quy Anh’s life changed for the better in early 2024 when he received access to home-based multidisciplinary rehabilitation services through the “Improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities in provinces heavily sprayed with Agent Orange/Dioxin” project (Inclusion Project)  funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Inclusion 1 Project is owned by the National Action Center for Toxic Chemicals and Environmental Treatment (NACCET), managed by
the Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP). MCNV is one of the project’s implementing partners, contributing to providing quality rehabilitation services to beneficiaries in Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam.

Quy Anh is now able to walk on his own.

The support provided a variety of rehabilitation services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language therapy, delivered by therapists during bi-weekly home visits. Physical therapy helped Quy Anh regain muscle strength through exercises and proper techniques of rolling over, sitting up from a side-lying position, transitioning from sitting to standing, and practicing balance for safe walking. Concurrently, occupational therapy helped him improve hand functions like grasping and holding objects. He also practiced daily activities like scooping food, holding a cup, and putting on a shirt.

To address his communication and language difficulties, he received guidance on breathing techniques, tongue placement, and correcting pronunciation errors. Capitalizing on his love of learning, Quy Anh was particularly receptive to language exercises like poetry reading, storytelling, and singing. These activities not only aligned with his interests but also brought him tremendous joy. To further enhance his communication and cognitive abilities, the therapist advised Quy Anh’s mother to engage him in more frequent conversations about daily life.

After over two months, thanks to the dedication of the multidisciplinary team and his own unwavering perseverance, Quy Anh underwent a remarkable transformation. His pain and muscle spasms significantly decreased. He regained the ability to bend and straighten his fingers, toes, knees, and elbows. From taking hesitant steps while holding onto a wall, Quy Anh progressed to walking independently around his home.

Quy Anh becomes more confident and cheerful.

 He has transitioned from complete dependence on his mother to performing many daily activities like brushing his teeth, eating independently, and dressing himself. Once shy and hesitant, Quy Anh becomes more confident and cheerful. He can now speak fluently and clearly to express his needs or describe his day. He can even read long and difficult poems aloud.

If Quy Anh never dared to dream of leaving his bed before, now he dares to dream bigger.

 ‘I hope to have enough strength to help my mother with household chores, learn a vocation and earn an income to support her as she ages,’ Quy Anh expressed.

A series of technical training workshop were held as part of the Tropical Fruit Quality Improvement Project, aiming to enhance production capacity, fruit quality, and market competitiveness.

Delegates attended the training in Dong Thap province. Photo: Dong Thap News

The training program, focusing on soil nutrition, took place consecutively on August 9th, 12th, and 13th in Dong Thap, Binh Thuan, and Long An provinces, with the participation of delegates from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Farmers’ Associations at all levels, Agricultural Service Centers, and Agricultural Extension Centers and cooperatives.

 The lecturers of the training program were leading experts in agriculture from the Netherlands and Vietnam, including: Mr. Peter Prins, Director of Eurofins Soil, Water and Agriculture Consulting (Netherlands); Dr. Lam Van Ha, Southern Center for Soil, Fertilizer and Environmental Research; and Dr. Nguyen Quang Chon, expert at Eurofins Chromatography Hai Dang Company.

Mr. Peter Prins, Technical Advisor of the project, speaking at the training session in Long An province. Photo: Long An News

The program disseminated useful information to agricultural officials and farmers about the effectiveness of soil testing as well as the importance of nutrition for crops, the proper use of fertilizers, guidance on how to take accurate soil samples, and introduced the latest technologies in soil analysis such as infrared technology.

As part of the program, delegates had the opportunity to visit demonstration models such as the application of new technology in dragon fruit production in Binh Thuan and Long An provinces, pomeloes in Ben Tre, and mangoes in Dong Thap.

The training program also provides a platform for agricultural officials and farmers to exchange production experiences and seek cooperation opportunities.

Overview of the event in Binh Thuan province. Photo: Binh Thuan News

At the end of the training, participating units developed specific action plans, including sampling, analysis, and application to production for about 300 cooperatives and production households in the project provinces. The results of the soil analysis will be used as a basis to propose solutions for smart farming methods, save costs, improve the quality of export fruits, and increase economic value. The project will fully support the cost of soil testing and consulting for about 300 households. This activity lays the foundation for the Vietnam Farmers’ Union and Eurofins to expand soil analysis services more widely to farmers in Vietnam.

A farmer representative raises a question to an expert. Photo: Long An News

In agricultural production, soil and crop nutrition are closely related. The results of soil analysis and testing are the basis for supplementing the necessary nutrients, reasonably for crops to grow well, reduce carbon emissions, save production costs, and improve the quality of export fruits, increasing economic value.

According to Mr. Peter Prins, Director of Soil, Water and Agriculture Consulting Company (Netherlands), for over 100 years, farmers’ organizations in the Netherlands have established many soil laboratories. Based on soil testing, Dutch farmers find ways to fertilize accurately (based on crop requirements) to avoid overusing fertilizers, helping to save production costs and reduce pollution.

Dr. Lam Van Ha, a researcher at the Southern Center for Soil, Fertilizer, and Environmental Studies, gave a presentation on optimizing fertilizer use. Photo by Tran Le Hieu for MCNV.