Vietnam
In 1975, at the end of the Vietnam War, so much blood had been shed that the country struggled to get back on its feet. HI today supports the population in its reconstruction efforts and implements disability prevention projects.
Occupational therapist Dang Nguyen works with Phuc Nguyen, 2, who has cerebral palsy at Benh Vien Phuc Hoi Chuic Nung Rehabilitation Hospital in Hanoi. | © Molly Feltner / HI
Actions in process
HI started to work in Vietnam in 1989 to help the victims of bombs, anti-personnel mines and explosive remnants of war.
In 1989, the Ministry of Health asked HI to set up the first orthopaedic workshop in Hanoi. In 1993 and 1994, HI opened two more orthopaedic workshops in Dalat and Dong Ha provinces.
In the years that followed, HI’s programme in Vietnam continued to support disability prevention and physical rehabilitation at the request of its Vietnamese partners, including various ministries and provincial institutions.
Today, the programme strengthens the technical skills of rehabilitation teams (doctors, physical therapists and social workers) and provides the necessary equipment.
Areas of intervention
concretely
Situation of the country
Nearly 40 years after the end of the Vietnam War, the country is now looking to the future, but there are many obstacles in its path.
50 years after the end of the Vietnam War, the country is looking to the future, but there are still many obstacles to overcome.
The number of people in Vietnam today who were injured during these armed conflicts is very high. Large tracts of land still bear the scars of the fighting, and restoring the environment is a huge challenge for the country.
Fifteen per cent of the population currently lives with a disability. The consequences of past conflicts are compounded by other causes of disability: the number of road accidents is on the increase, as are the number of occupational accidents in factories or on building sites throughout the country; in addition, many people suffer from congenital malformations.
Thanks to the support of the State and the efforts of the health sector, Vietnam has made progress, particularly in reducing infant mortality and occupational mortality. The country is now focusing on the health of disadvantaged populations, the prevention of disability and the socio-economic inclusion of people with disabilities.
Number of HI staff members: 9
Date the programme opened: 1989