People attend the launch of the smart phone app - NKT - for persons with disabilities. (Photo Courtesy of UNDP) TheNKT app gives people with disabilities, particularly survivors fromaccidents with explosive ordnance, the chance to provide and access dataabout their disabilities and print a disability certificate to receiveGovernment assistance and communicate other needs to authorities.
Thedigital platform at nkt.btxh.gov.vn forregistry and information management for persons with disabilities (PwD) was launchedon June 15 in Hanoi as part of the Korea-Vietnam Mine Action Project(KV-MAP).
Theproject partners are the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), theUnited Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Vietnam National MineAction Center (VNMAC) with support from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids andSocial Affairs (MOLISA).
Anestimated more than 6 million people in Vietnam, accounting for 7 percentof the population, live with a disability.
Thedigital platform aims to make their lives easier and support the provision ofneeds-based assistance.
Informationregistered in the database will be keptconfidential.
“Thisapplication is very user-friendly and easy-to-navigate. This is a greatapplication for persons with disabilities,” said Tran Le Quyen, a sign languageteacher at the Support and Connect Deaf People to Society (SCDeaf) organisation.
“Withthis application, I can update and access data anytime, anywhere I want,” saidCao Ngoc Hung, a 31-year-old javelin athlete who won a bronze medal at the 2016Paralympics in Brazil.
“Whenlogging into this application, I can register my information on my disabilitylevel with the local authority. For people with disabilities in remote areas,using this application saves them from travelling and enables them to updatetheir needs and then receive appropriate support from the Government anddifferent projects."
Forsocial protection officers, the digital platform transforms themanagement of support for persons with disabilities. It enables MOLISA andits provincial departments to develop the national database with timely andaccurate information on persons with disabilities in support of evidence-basedpolicymaking and targeted assistance.
Thedigital platform has been successfully tested in Quang Binh, Binh Dinh,Khanh Hoa, Thanh Hoa, Quang Ninh, Quang Nam and Vinh Long provinces, aswell as Hue and Da Nang cities, with 90,000 persons with disabilitieshaving already agreed to be registered.
Theseinclude the 75,000 people who decided to register when the initialdistrict-level pilot was scaled up to a provincial-level assessment coveringboth Quang Binh and Binh Dinh, thanks to the Korea-Vietnam Mine Action Project.
Thisexperience helped make the online platform ready for use throughout Vietnam,and this has become easier with the launch of the app for smartphones usingeither iOS or Android operating systems.
“Wewill promote these applications widely, while at the same time continue developingthe skills of social workers enabling them to meet the needs of those theyserve,” said Nguyen Van Hoi, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and SocialAffairs.
Theplatform is entirely web-based andthe data is centrally stored and managed. With 70 per cent of Vietnamesepeople owning a smartphone, the app was developed for such devices,enhancing the access to services for the population.
Theapplication is currently being upgraded with additional support functions toassist people during registration.
Atthe launch of the digital platform, UNDP Resident Representative Caitlin Wiesenemphasised the importance of promoting innovative solutions to solve issues forpersons with disabilities, who are among the most vulnerable populations insociety and have been disproportionally affected by COVID-19.
“TheUNDP rapid assessment of socio-economic impacts of COVID 19 on PwD showed that24 per cent of the respondents did not have a disability certificate, whichlimited their ability to access the services and assistance they need,” she said.
ChoHan-Deog, Country Director of KOICA Vietnam Office, said the availability ofthe app was a commendable initiative contributing to the greater goal of Vietnamto make society more inclusive.
“Iam happy to see persons with disabilities, including survivors from accidentswith explosive ordnance, now will have easier access to social assistance,” hesaid./.
VNA
