More than 144,000 women and children in several mountainous provinces have adopted healthier lifestyles over the past two years thanks to a project funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies.
The results of the project, named “Improving maternal and child health in ethnic groups though adopting healthier behaviours,” were reviewed by the Centre for Community Health Research and Development at a meeting in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on February 19.
The project targets the northern mountainous provinces of Dien Bien and Yen Bai together with Dak Lak.
Its main objective is to reduce the mortality rate among ethnic women and children in mountainous and remote areas of Vietnam through the promotion of healthy behaviours in communities.
According to Nguyen Thi Mai Huong, director of the project’s management board, the fatality rates of children under five years old and pregnant women have reduced significantly.
More women in the targeted localities have given birth at medical centres, she said, adding that public awareness of maternal and child health has also been improved.
Participants proposed utilizing the local system of loudspeakers to broadcast health contents in local languages to enhance the effectiveness of the project. They also suggested opening training courses raising knowledge about reproductive health for local health workers.
The Atlantic Philanthropies is a private foundation created in 1982 by US businessman Charles F. “Chuck” Feeney. The fund’s grant-making supports health and social projects in Australia, Bermuda, Northern Ireland, Ireland, South Africa, the US and Vietnam.-VNA
The results of the project, named “Improving maternal and child health in ethnic groups though adopting healthier behaviours,” were reviewed by the Centre for Community Health Research and Development at a meeting in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on February 19.
The project targets the northern mountainous provinces of Dien Bien and Yen Bai together with Dak Lak.
Its main objective is to reduce the mortality rate among ethnic women and children in mountainous and remote areas of Vietnam through the promotion of healthy behaviours in communities.
According to Nguyen Thi Mai Huong, director of the project’s management board, the fatality rates of children under five years old and pregnant women have reduced significantly.
More women in the targeted localities have given birth at medical centres, she said, adding that public awareness of maternal and child health has also been improved.
Participants proposed utilizing the local system of loudspeakers to broadcast health contents in local languages to enhance the effectiveness of the project. They also suggested opening training courses raising knowledge about reproductive health for local health workers.
The Atlantic Philanthropies is a private foundation created in 1982 by US businessman Charles F. “Chuck” Feeney. The fund’s grant-making supports health and social projects in Australia, Bermuda, Northern Ireland, Ireland, South Africa, the US and Vietnam.-VNA
