U.S. NGO Funds $2M to Improve Vietnam Women Health

Atlantic Philanthropies, the U.S. non-governmental organization (NGO) has funded $2 million to help improve health for ethnic minority women and children in Vietnam, the state-run Vietnam News Agency said late Mar 11. The project entitled “Improving health for ethnic minority mothers and children through behaviors good for health”, will be implemented in Dien Bien, Dak Lak and Yen Bai by the Vietnam Centre for Community Health Research and Development. It is aimed to reduce the infection and fatality rates of diseases among local minority women and children in disadvantaged areas, including those in Muong Cha, Dien Bien Dong, Iasup, Krong Bong, Luc Yen and Van Yen districts. Around 1,400 communications officials and community medical workers will be trained on behavior changes in care and treatment for mothers and children, and 160,000 women will gain more knowledge on mothering and care skills for children. The project is expected to support 36 community groups with 1,800 members to have access to information on safe mothering and child care. Earlier, the U.S. organization also pledged to finance $7 million to help improve infrastructure for medical clinics under the provincial primary healthcare system in the southern province of Ca Mau from now up to 2013. (vietnamplus.vn Mar 11)