The project "For mother and baby - For Vietnamese stature" officially started the 3rd phase in Vinh Phuc province

The launch of the project was attended by representatives of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, Vinh Phuc Industrial Zones Trade Union, Donor representatives, Organizing Committee and more than 40 trade union officials and health officials from companies.

The kick-off ceremony of the project "For mother and baby - For Vietnamese stature" phase 3 took place on the morning of May 21, 2019 in Khai Quang Industrial Zone (Vinh Yen city, Vinh Phuc province). The project is implemented by For Vietnamese Stature Foundation (VSF), Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and Vinh Phuc Industrial Zones Trade Union.

Following the success in 2017 and 2018, the project "For mother and baby - For Vietnamese stature" this year officially came to employees working in three industrial zones in Vinh Phuc province namely Khai Quang, Binh Xuyen and Ba Thien. It is expected that in the phase 3, at least 3,000 employees will be able to improve their knowledge, skills and practices on nutrition care and reproductive health care - safe and appropriate contraceptive methods suitable for physical condition of Vietnamese people, and mental health / depression prevention.

The training course in the project focuses on more than 40 trade union officials and health officials - the key factors that further spread the knowledge and skills of women's health care at their companies.

“VSF as well as implementing units wish that the project will provide knowledge and skills for workers, especially female workers in reproductive age. This will be a prerequisite to prepare for pregnancy and nurturing healthy babies, therefore stabilizing the family's finances, ensuring health to work and contributing to the country's development. ”- Mrs. Tran Thi Nhu Trang, VSF’s Director spoke about the project in the launching ceremony.

In 8 months of implementation (from May 2019 to December 2019), the project "For mother and baby - For Vietnamese stature", phase 3 is expected to organize specific activities including: 02-day training course for 40 health and trade union officials on information providing skills; 20 communication sessions for employees about knowledge and skills of nutrition care, reproductive health - safe sexual intercourse and mental health of women in reproductive age; social marketing program of contraceptives and condoms for employees; free ambulatory reproductive health counseling and examination for 800 female workers; presenting 4,000 gifts of health care products from Hoa Linh Pharma and 12,000 glasses of TH true MILK from TH Group to employees.

Obstetrician / Gynecologist  - Doctor Tran Thi Minh Tam (Soc Son District Health Center) in the training on reproductive health and safe sexual skills.

A two-day training course for health officials and trade union officials from 10 participating companies focused on  skills to provide information and advice bout reproductive health - safe sexual intercourse, mental health and nutrition for mother and baby. The aim of the training course is to support core staff at each factory and become a bridge for workers to access the necessary knowledge and skills.

A new point of this year's project is social marketing program for condoms and contraceptives coordinate with the Newchoice and OK brand. Social marketing is not new, but social marketing for condoms and contraceptives seems to be less interested in recent times. This social marketing program is expected to contribute to enhancing the opportunities of workers in accessing contraceptive methods  that are highly effective, safe and at reasonable prices.

Mrs. Tran Thu Phuong - Head of Women's Labor Department - belongs to the Department of Women's Affairs of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, member of the Organization Committee commented on the practicality of the project "For mother and baby - For Vietnamese stature": "After two years of implementation, the Organizing Committee realized the practical effectiveness of the project to the employees. Through the project, the employees also have more confidence and support on the trade union organization, thereby contributing to stabilize the harmonious, goodwill relationship in the business. We hope that the project will continue to promote the efficiency achieved this year and expand activities to many localities across the country in the coming years.”