Ms. Patricia Pena, Assistant Deputy Minister for Partnership for Development and Innovation at Global Affairs of Canada was accompanied by An Nguyen, HealthBridge Country Director to visit HealthBridge’s “Improving reproductive health and preventing child marriage” project in Vietnam during the first week of November 2023. The project is implemented in the remote and mountainous Son La province located in Northwestern Vietnam in ethnic minority communities.

During the first part of the trip, Ms. Pena spent time learning about the state of health and nutrition in Vietnam, and Canadian support for health and nutrition through HealthBridge. She met with Mr. Dinh Anh Tuan, Director of Mother and Child Department of the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Hanoi. At the meeting, the state of maternal and child health in Vietnam was discussed in detail. Although Vietnam has achieved significant results in improving the health of mothers and children, disparities remain especially in rural and remote areas. For example, stunting among children under five remains high overall at 19.6%, and especially high among ethnic minorities at 38% according to the 2020 National Nutrition Survey. Child marriage also remains an issue in the country. Approximately, 18.8 % women (aged 20-49 years) in the Northern Midlands and Mountainous areas are married before their 18th birthday. Significantly, child marriage is even higher among specific groups such as the Mong people at 53.4%. Mr. Tuan, then shared with Mrs. Pena about the close partnership between the MOH and HealthBridge Vietnam. The partnership started over two decades ago with HealthBridge’s Tobacco Control program and in the last ten years it has expanded to the Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health & Rights program. Under the latter program, HealthBridge has partnered with the MOH to organize training courses for over 800 local health staff, including ethnic minority midwives, provide medical devices and essential equipment and supplies for health facilities, support the establishment of two newborn care units in the Son La province, and organize communication activities to enhance the knowledge of over 11,000 people in the community on maternal and child health which indirectly benefits millions of people, particularly ethnic minorities. Most recently, the MOH with the support from HealthBridge has developed a Guidance on sexual and reproductive health for adolescents. It was piloted in Son La before being certified by the leader of MOH, then applied across the country. Ms. Pena is happy with the fruits of the collaboration between HealthBridge and the Vietnam government with support from Canada.

Next, Ms. Pena visited the project implementation site in the Son La province. First, she visited Chieng Sinh High School, a project school located in Son La city. There, she attended a small group meeting of students where the students gathered to discuss adolescent reproductive health issues they faced. Ms. Pena expressed that she was impressed by the confidence of the two students who facilitated the session, and the active participation of all the other students in the meeting. Ms. Pena also joined the practice session at the end of the meeting, demonstrating the use of condoms.

Finally, Ms. Pena travelled to Tong Co commune, in Thuan Chau district where she observed a food demonstration activity. The commune health staff use food demonstrations to show parents and caregivers (including mothers, fathers, grandparents) how to prepare complementary meals for young children. Both mothers and fathers are encouraged to attend the activity so they can learn how to prepare nutritious meals for their children using locally available ingredients. Afterwards, Ms. Pena visited a household with a pregnant mother to learn about the local living conditions, and how antenatal care is delivered at home by health staff who conduct home visits.

During her field visit, Ms. Pena had the opportunity to meet with the provincial leaders of Son La province for discussion on the importance of HealthBridge’s work and Canadian assistance to support health and nutrition in the province.