After three years of implementation, the Japanese-funded project "Reducing Income- and Health-related Vulnerability of Older Persons” (Project VIE071 ) has shown efficiency in Hoa Binh province, one of its six target localities. Thirty inter-generational self-help clubs (ISHC) were established under the project, helping local elderly well adapt to an aging society.
Dinh
Thi Chien (first left), a member of the inter-generational self-help club in
Hanh Phuc village, Hoa Son commune, Luong Son district, introducing her
family’s model to improve income.
Welcoming a delegation from the Japanese Embassy
and sponsors of the Project VIE071, Dinh Thi Chien, a member of the
inter-generational self-help club in Hanh Phuc village, Hoa Son commune, Luong
Son district, said thanks to the soft loan provided by the club, she has been
able to expand her vegetable farm and earn stable income of 4 million VND (over
157 USD) a month.
President of the Hoa Binh Elderly Association
Bui Tuan Hai described the clubs as a useful playground where old people have
opportunities to take part in various practical events to improve their health
and income.
To date, 103 ISHC have been set up in 79 out of
the 151 communes, wards and towns, attracting the participation of over 5,200
members, with more than 2,000 of whom able to access concessional loans, he
said, adding all of the clubs have built their own funds.
Nguyen Thi Nga, a social support specialist from
the World Bank (WB) in Vietnam, said the project was carried out in Hoa Binh, a
fast-aging locality, aiming to equip the elderly with necessary self-care
skills and those to increase income.
It has provided lessons to expand the model
across the province as well as others in the vicinity, she said, adding the WB
will continue seeking opportunities and mobilising resources for activities to
care for and promote the elderly’s roles.
The World Bank and partners
launchedproject earlier this year, aiming to reduce economic and health
vulnerability of older persons in Vietnam, under a 2.75-million-USD grant,
funded by the Government of Japan throughthe Japan Social Development
Fund, administered by the World Bank. Implemented by HelpAge International in
collaboration with Association of the Elderly in Vietnam, the project is
supporting 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% of them elderly.
Covering eight areas, the project has directly
benefited 11,618 people, organising 80 free consultation and health examination
sessions. So far, 96% of the club members have had health insurance cards. The
project has mobilised over 80 million VND (3,142 USD) for social security
activities, and attracted 310 volunteers to provide home care for nearly 200
people so far.
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.
