USAID supports Vietnamese people with disabilities
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Office of the Standing Board for the National Committee on the Settlement of Post-War Unexploded Ordnance and Toxic Chemical Consequences (Office 701) today signed a memorandum of intent that will improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities in the central provinces of Quang Tri, Hue, Quang Nam, Binh Dinh, the southern provinces of Dong Nai, Binh Phuoc, and Tay Ninh.
Over the next five years, USAID and Office 701 will work with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs; the Ministry of Health; local organizations; and the People’s Committees in these provinces to provide direct care, build the capacity of the rehabilitation sector, and develop community level social services.
Vice Minister of National Defense - Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh , U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tom Udall (D-NM), Rob Portman (R-OH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Tim Kaine, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J. Kritenbrink and USAID/Vietnam Mission Director Michael Greene witnessed the signing.
While initial cooperation focused on direct services such as providing assistive devices such as prosthetic limbs as wheelchairs, over the years the partnership has evolved into working with Vietnam to build the modern institutional and physical infrastructure needed to help persons with disabilities well into the future.
USAID is currently continuing its disabilities assistance through eight projects which expand rehabilitation and social services, and improve policies to increase the quality of life for persons with disabilities. USAID also supports the development of local Disabled Persons Organizations and their advocacy efforts.