World Bank (WB) and partners hold ceremony to launch the project (Photo: VNA) The project, implemented by HelpAge International in collaboration with Association of the Elderly in Vietnam, will support the scale up of a community-based model for elderly care that promotes economically productive, healthy, and active ageing.
It is estimated that 27,000 people in six provinces will benefit from the project’s interventions, 70 percent of them are elderly.
“As one of the most rapidly aging countries in the world which will see the 65 age group increase by 2.5 times by 2050, Vietnam needs a different approach to make health and social care systems fit for a growing older population,” said Carolyn Turk, the WB Country Director for Vietnam. “We are pleased to support Vietnam in putting in place innovative, cost-effective and affordable interventions to provide long-term senior care.”
A core activity of the project is to expand the Intergenerational Self-Help Club (ISHC) network through building at least 180 new clubs. This model, first implemented in Vietnam in 2006 and whose effectiveness has been recognised by the government and included in national policies, adopts a holistic approach to meet the multiple needs of older persons. These self-managed clubs, which host 50-70 members, runs a variety of inter-generational activities to help members boost incomes, improve physical and mental wellbeing, and know their rights.
As of now, 3,500 ISHCs have been established covering 61 out of the 63 cities and provinces in Vietnam but quality and coverage varies. The innovation of this project, which will run until September 2024, is that it will help fill some of these gaps and also facilitate better linkage with Government service providers./.
VNA
