Minister of Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) Meets with Atlantic Senior Staff

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On 25th February 2013, Minister of Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), Madam Pham Thi Hai Chuyen had a working session with Mr. Christopher G. Oechsli, Chief Executive Officer and President of The Atlantic Philanthropies (Atlantic). Vice Minister Nguyen Trong Dam, representatives of the Department of Social Protection, Department of International Co-operations, Mr. Martin O’ Bien, Senior Vice President for Programmes of The Atlantic Philanthropies and senior staffs of this organization in Vietnam also attended this working session.

Minister Pham Thi Hai Chuyen acknowledges and appreciates the efforts and supports of the Atlantic to MOLISA. Since 2009, the Atlantic together with other international counterparts have assisted MOLISA in conducting research and developing the proposalson development of the social work profession and the mental healthcare. These proposals have been approved by the Prime Minister in 2010 and 2012. After obtaining the approval of the Government, MOLISA received the financial assistance of USD 2.4 million from the Atlantic to facilitate the implementation of the national proposals.

Minister Pham Thi Hai Chuyen confirmed that the collaboration and assistance from the Atlantic has helped raising awareness of the community, policy makers and planners on roles and capacities of professional social work in resolving individual, social and health issues, creating a good environment for social workers and officials discussing and sharing information, strengthening the co-operation effectively, thus improving the quality of social protection provided to the disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. In addition, the collaboration with the Atlantic help enhancing the competence of MOLISA to coordinate, mobilize, and attract the involvement of other related Ministries and parties for the development of social work and community-based mental health programs. Minister Pham Thi Hai Chuyen reaffirmed that the technical support of the Atlantic played an important role in renovating the system of social support in mental health care to meet the needs of community and society, through strengthening multi-sectoral co-operation, improving policy system, strengthening human resource, and establishing community-based prevention and intervention models for people with mental disorders.

Chief Executive Officer and President of Atlantic, Mr. Christopher G. Oechsli informs the Minister that since 2000, the Atlantic’s support in Vietnam has mainly focused on strengthening primary healthcare system, developing human resource in health, and improving the access to healthcare and social assistance for the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. The Atlantic is a limited-life foundation and it will complete its grant-making in Viet Nam by the end of 2013. At this stage, the Atlantic’s strategic priority will focus on summing-up the work that have been funded, consolidating its progress, and communicating its findings more broadly. The Atlantic commits to work closely with MOLISA and Vietnam to ensure the long-term impact of their funded-programs in Viet Nam.

In addition to the long-lasting wars decades ago, Vietnam has been also vulnerable to natural disasters, accidents and misfortunes, which leads to a high number of vulnerable people in the society (with approximately 28% of its population). During the last few years, the Government has set priority in economic development in parallel with societal equity and progression, however, Vietnam still lacks a comprehensive social services system and a limited number of professional social workers. The MOLISA Minister expressed MOLISA’s expectations to continue its collaboration with the Atlantic in raising the public awareness and providing support for the disadvantaged populations to overcome the barriers preventing from access to healthcare and social assistance.  

MOLISA is an Atlantic grantee.