Useful communication project on knowledge of health protection for workers
02/06/2018
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Because of typical shift work at factories, workers’ personal health protection, especially that of female labours, is not strongly emphasized. Based on actual demands, phase 2 of the project “For mother and baby - For Vietnamese Stature” has been continuously conducted with communication sessions on proper nutrition, reproductive and mental health for workers.
The matter of health protection among workers
According to report of Labour and Employment survey in 2014 conducted by General Statistics Office, Vietnam has 26 million female workers, accounting for 48,7 percent of the labour force. Besides agriculture, the two industries with the most number of female workers, which even surpasses the number of male counterparts, are manufacturing and retailing. More importantly, more than 65 percent of labour force in FDI companies is female, mainly in industrial zones.
Labours in general and female workers in industrial zones are currently having to work under considerable pressure in terms of physical and mental strength. Moreover, their living conditions are not so comfortable, given the shortage of clean water and improper hygiene. Nutrition to recharge manual labour strength and more essentially, health and nutrition during pregnancy are not strongly accentuated.
Reproductive health among workers, especially female ones, is also not properly raised. Female workers have low level of awareness of health protection during pregnancy and solutions to matters associated with mental health, which consequently results in a popular phenomenon of autism after giving birth.
Useful projects for workers
Correspondingly, For Vietnamese Stature Foundation, in conjunction with several labour unions in industrial zones in Hanoi, launched “For mother and baby- For Vietnamese Stature” program for the purpose of offering knowledge and skills of nutrition, reproductive and mental health to workers in 5 industrial zones in Hanoi and Bac Ninh. Mrs. Tran Hong Diep, Coordinator at For Vietnamese Stature Foundation, said: “The topic of health protection, reproductive and mental health for workers in industrial zones is useful for both male and female workers in protecting their own heath, their family and boosting the stature of future generations. With the aim of multiplying the project in a sustainable way, besides TH Group, we have cooperated and received fundings from DKT International organisation, Inc. America; therefore, expanding implementation area and providing more useful activities for beneficiaries.”
50 labour union officers and medical officers participated in a specialised training session to improve knowledge and fundamental group skills.
With a view to equipping workers with knowledge and skills, phase 2 of “For mother and baby- For Vietnamese Stature” project has attracted 3400 workers, divided in 2 categories:
The first category is labour union and medical workers from companies in 5 industrial zones of the project. The specialised training session for this group was not only about knowledge but also skills of delivering information to coreteam, which are considered the main communication officers in their companies.
The second category is workers from 9 factories in 5 industrial zones of the project. Workers will gain knowledge and skills of health protection, reproductive and mental health in 20 communication sessions taught by top experts. Especially, there will be a mobile reproductive health check-up, which is expected to approach 800 workers and a competition which will take place in the same time as project ending conference in December, 2018.
Positive signs from coreteam
From May 28 to May 31, a specialised training session was held for 50 labour union and medical workers in Thang Long industrial zone (Hanoi). The content includes proper nutrition before, during pregnancy and during breastfeeding; nutrition in first 1000 golden days for baby; health protection for mother and baby; breastfeeding; contraception methods and how to protect mental health and information provision.
Participants practised proper breathing skill to reduce stress and autism
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao from SEI Electronic Components (Vietnam) Ltd, in Thang Long industrial zone, said: “Knowledge in the training session is very useful for those expecting baby and during pregnancy like me (currently in week 26). The teaching methods of experts are easy to understand and diverse, from group discussion on knowledge about nutrition, reproductive health before, during pregnancy and after birth, or how to breathe correctly to reduce stress and prevent autism after birth. With these knowledge and practical skills, I am confident that I can directly give advices to those in need in the company.”
The training session was run engagingly with many activities to improve communication skills for labour union and medical officers in companies.
Mrs. Le Thi Huyen from Yamaha Motor Ltd, in Soc Son Industrial zone said: “After this course, I want to organise some talks, even workshops about this knowledge for workers in my company. In my personal social network, I shared what I have learned here so that those in need can leave comments or seek direct advice. In the same time, I will have conversations with small groups so that the information can be spread to a large number of workers.”
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