THAI BINH—May 7, 2008

On May 7, East Meets West Foundation, Thai Binh People’s Committee, the Red Cross and other local authorities participated in the groundbreaking ceremony to begin renovation of the two rehabilitation centers at Dong Hung and Tien Hai district hospitals, Thai Binh province. The construction is part of EMW'S Support Network for People with Disabilities (SN-PWD) program.

The rehabilitation departments in Thai Binh will be upgraded to help build the local health capacity to assist people with disabilities.  The new facilities will be equipped with appropriate tools and equipment to meet increasing need of treatment and care for PWDs in the locality. PWDs will be more convenient to access to high quality care services and the medical staffs, who are trained by program, will be working in better conditions.

SN-PWD is an initiative developed by East Meets West Foundation to help create channels of medical, educational, and job training services for people with disabilities in Vietnam in areas affected by dioxin contamination. The program was originally implemented in Quang Ngai Province through a grant from the Ford Foundation and is now also operating in the northern province of Thai Binh.
East Meets West Foundation has laid the foundation for the project’s success in the coming years. The first year saw the following achievements: 65 people with disabilities received corrective surgeries in Quang Ngai Province; the Quang Ngai Orthopedics In-Patient Ward was officially handed over to local partners; nearly 100 health workers were trained on physiotherapy and rehabilitation; many local authorities were trained on the management of development projects; and 12 SME (delete s) owners and leaders were trained in business development and management. In this quarter, SN-PWD will provide life-saving cardiac operations for seven cases in Thai Binh and training for more than 400 village health workers in home-based rehabilitation.

According to EMW Country Director Mark Conroy, the renovation of the two rehabilitation centers in Thai Binh will be complete in August. “New and modern centers will provide access for people with disabilities to quality medical services. There will definitely be more centers to be refurbished and built when the program expands in both provinces. It is a part of a continuous effort by East Meets West to bring people with disabilities healthier, more productive, and more dignified lives."

 

To find out more, contact our Communications Team at info@eastmeetswest.org.