(HBO) – The programme on results-based scaling up rural sanitation and water supply, funded through a World Bank loan, has been carried out in Hoa Binh province since 2018. Among the relevant agencies and units assigned by the provincial People’s Committee, the health sector is in charge of coordinating the implementation of the tasks to achieve three main targets, namely 60 communes meeting "commune-wide sanitation” standards, 30 others "sustainable commune-wide sanitation”, and 85 water supply facilities and toilets of communal health stations upgraded or built.
Key provincial and district personnel draw communication maps to improve awareness and practices of sanitation in rural areas.
Deputy Director of the provincial Health Department Hoang Thi Thuy said the health sector has been pushing ahead with implementing the programme to expand the coverage of hygienic toilets, thus improving environmental hygiene in rural areas, reducing hygiene-related diseases, and help achieve the targets of the national strategy on rural sanitation and water supply.
Due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme was extended to the end of 2022.
The implementation also faced certain difficulties, including a lack of manpower, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, she noted, adding that it was also not easy to select communes to carry out the programme, particularly when rural residents’ awareness and economic conditions were still limited.
In the face of such difficulties, the Health Department has made annual implementation plans which identified roadmaps and targets. In particular, the sector has provided training for key provincial and district personnel, who later would implement the programme in the targeted communes and hamlets via a wide range of activities, including disseminating information via megaphones and community meetings, drawing propaganda posters, and facilitating the market of hygiene equipment.
In the initial phase, financial aid of 1 million VND (42 USD) was given to each poor household, and 500,000 VND to each near-poor to help build hygienic toilets. Since 2020, financial assistance was no longer provided but focus has been put on communications to raise public awareness and change hygiene practices by each people, each family, and the entire community.
Thanks to strong efforts, the rate of rural households with hygienic toilets in Hoa Binh province has gradually increased, to 71.75% in 2018, 79.15% in 2019, 82.56% in 2020, and 83.74% in 2021. The figure is expected to reach 85% in 2022.
The Health Department targets that in 2022 - the last year of the programme, all households, along with teachers and students of schools in the eight communes that have achieved "sustainable commune-wide sanitation”, would access relevant information and build or use hygienic toilets. Besides, eight communal health stations of four districts would have clean water supply facilities, hygienic toilets, and usable hand washing places.
So far, the health sector has obtained its three main targets, helping improve rural environmental hygiene and creating an important stepping stone for districts in Hoa Binh to press on with the work and build civilised new-style rural areas./.
In the afternoon of December 17, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism organized a summary and awarding ceremony for the Online Competition on preventing and controlling the Family Violence in 2024.
Implementing the Resolution of the 17th Provincial Party Congress to reach a health insurance coverage rate of 95% or more of the population, the Women's Union at all provincial levels has deployed the creative models and methods and effectively replicated them. These activities not only contribute to completing the social security goals, but they also spread the spirit of solidarity and sharing in the community.
Hoa Binh is carried out investment projects to upgrade three district medical centres in Lac Son and Yen Thuy districts and Hoa Binh city. The projects are funded by the central budget under the Economic and Social Recovery and Development Programme, aiming to improve healthcare services. The goal is to gradually develop a system of modern and quality district-level healthcare facilities.
To improve the cultural and spiritual life of the elderly, the associations for the elderly at various levels in Hoa Binh province have created many interesting and meaningful activities, attracting the participation of a large number of old people. These activities provide opportunities for them to improve both their physical and mental health, enabling them to live happily and healthily.
The pilot programme for sending Vietnamese workers to the Republic of Korea (RoK) for seasonal agricultural jobs continues under a collaboration between localities of the two countries, running for five years from January 1, 2022.
Staff of the Red Cross Society of Hoa Binh province were deeply moved by a meaningful and humanitarian act by Mr Vu Huu Lung, 86, in Hoa Binh city, to donate his corneas, which brought hopes to those yearning for the light. Before passing away, Lung left behind a noble wish to donate all of his organs, including his corneas, to help patients suffering from blindness and those in need of organ transplants to revive their lives.
