According to Dr. Nguyen Huong Giang-Deputy Head of Rehabilitation Department, to participate in this project, Children’s Hospital had a mission with the participation of experts from the Department of Rehabilitation and Mental Illness. According to the plan, in 2020, the program will be implemented in 2 locations: Cam Pha city, Quang Ninh province; Vinh city, Nghe An province. These areas have a large population, a large number of children under 6 years of age, and a higher number of children with autism. In addition, the qualifications of the medical staff in these two areas are suitable for transferring knowledge of early detection and early intervention for autism under 6 years old.
Within the framework of the project, the National Children’s Hospital’s delegation has coordinated with the Provincial Project Management Board and educational institutions to implement 3 main goals. Objective 1: Improve capacity, transfer rehabilitation knowledge and techniques at medical treatment and rehabilitation facilities and at home for autistic children under 6 years old in the project area. Objective 2 is to complete, maintain and develop the PHS-CTS network for autistic children under 6 years of age, bringing it into the existing medical network and community-based rehabilitation network.
The third objective includes developing a process for early detection and early intervention, care and management of children with autism under 6 years of age.In the two project areas, the Children’s Hospital delegation deployed two training contents: early detection of children with autism, diagnosis and identification of the need for intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder. Each event took place over 5 days with the participation of health workers who were commune health workers, rehabilitation technicians, rehabilitation doctors and pediatric psychiatrists.
After the training program, according to the assessment of the Project Management Board, about 8000 children from 0 to under 6 years old at health facilities and communities in the project area were screened for early detection of autism. 90% of children under 6 years of age with suspected autism in the project area are screened, diagnosed and identified needing rehabilitation intervention. 80% of children under 6 years old in the project area are diagnosed with autism through screening, intervention and rehabilitation, providing assistive devices as prescribed by a specialist in rehabilitation according to their needs at facilities. receive medical care and continue to be monitored, cared for, and guided for rehabilitation at rehabilitation service providers for children with autism or at home. 90% of pediatric and rehabilitation specialists at the provincial, district and commune levels and rehabilitation collaborators in the project area are transferred knowledge and skills on early detection and early intervention for children under 6 years of age with autism.
“The war has passed, but the heavy consequences of Agent Orange/Dioxin used by the US during the war in Vietnam are still a sore problem for society because it has caused many harms to the community. health of millions of Vietnamese people and long-term sequelae to the children and grandchildren of soldiers and people exposed to toxic chemicals/Dioxin. These people are in need of health care, nursing and rehabilitation at medical examination and treatment facilities and in the community. Participating in this project, the National Children’s Hospital wishes to join hands to bring a better quality of life to children who are victims of Agent Orange and Dioxin”- Dr. Giang said.
