Irish Aid and Da Nang have signed an agreement for a project described as strengthening the capacity and sustainability of early detection and intervention of children with disabilities in the city for the next 3 years with funds totalling 18 billion VND (about 796,000 US$).

Representatives of Đà Nẵng and Irish Aid agree to strengthen a programme to look after children with disabilities. — Photo courtesy Đà Nẵng City’s Foreign Affairs Department

According to the city’s Department of Foreign Affairs, the agreement, signed last weekend, would help to screen new-born babies and intervene on children with disabilities, and those in need of intervention surgery.

It said the project, which was implemented at 3 districts – Cam Le, Lien Chieu and Hoa Vang - in the 2012 - 2016 period, had provided rehabilitation, special education, medical examination and surgery to 349 children in total.

A total of more than 500 medical staff, specialists and rehabilitation lecturers have joined project training sessions run by the Sustainable Health Development Centre (VietHealth).

Since 2008, Irish Aid and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have jointly sponsored the Support Network for People with Disabilities in Da Nang by providing rehabilitation services and scholarships for poor children with disabilities.

Last year, the city and the Irish Embassy in Viet Nam also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on high quality, human-resource education and management skills for personnel and start-up programmes for students in the city.

The agreement also aims to boost the bilateral relations between Ireland and the city, and to enhance exchanges amongst the locality and cities in Ireland./.

VNF/VNS