The Nordic Assistance to Vietnam (NAV) has contributed effectively to improving public health and gender equality as well as helped vulnerable Vietnamese respond to climate change during its 20-year operation in the country, heard a ceremony in central Thua Thien-Hue province on November 23.

Addressing the event marking NAV’s 20 th anniversary, NAV Chief Representative Eivind Archer said the non-governmental organisation is part of the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), which operates in the fields of poverty reduction, gender equality improvement, HIV/AIDS prevention and climate change response in 29 nations around the world.

NAV funds about 1.2 million USD for Vietnam each year through its projects and programmes.

It has effectively carried out a programme on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment at 17 prisons in 12 provinces and worked with the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee to help promote the involvement of religions and religious organisations in the fight.

The organisation has also coordinated with social and religious organisations in climate change adaptation and social affairs.

It has developed an initiative to teach children in the central coastal region to swim as an effort to reduce disaster risks. In 2013, the project was implemented in 30 schools in Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Tri provinces, providing necessary skills for 119 gymnastics teachers and 1,696 primary school students.

NAV vows to continue its support for and contributions to Vietnam ’s sustainable development in the time ahead, stressed Eivind Archer.-VAN