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In December 2009, VPHA coordinated with Dong Thap PPHA deployed a program “Strengthening the implementation of youth and adolescent reproductive health policy in Dong Thap through advocacy activities by the network of VPHA” with the AP’s funding (Atlantic Philanthropies). The program’s objectives were to enhance the knowledge and capacity of Provincial People's Committee (PPC), departments and organizations involved in making and implementing the youth and adolescent reproductive health care policy.
To make a suitable plan of intervention with the actual situation of Dong Thap, VPHA coordinated with Dong Thap PPHA to carry out an evaluation survey and summarize related policiy documents. The association conducted interviews the representatives of Executive Committee of PPC, Health Department, Education and Training Department, health centers, organizations and unions to collect data. The evaluation survey of the implemention of youth and adolescent reproductive health care in the stage of 2006 – 2010 shows the advantages and disavantages of the policy implemention process.
 Survey on the needs of reproductive health care for youth in Dong Thap
Besides, in October 2010, VPHA coordinated with Dong Thap PPHA, Health Department to conduct survey on 1200 youths and more than 100 private clinics in order to identify more clearly the current status of youth and adolescent reproductive health in Dong Thap. The survey was conducted in 4 areas including: Thuong Thoi Hau A commune (Hong Ngu district), Tan My commune (Lap Vo district), My Suong commune (Cao Lanh district) and Thanh Binh town (Thanh Binh district). The result shows that the needs for youth and adolescent reproductive health care is high, but the available services do not meet the needs. The fact requires leaders to timely make policies and measures.
Based on the survey’s results with the technical support of VPHA and Dong Thap PPHA, the Deparments of Dong Thap have agreed to build “Youth and adolescent reproductive health care plan in Dong Thap for the period of 2011 - 2015”. With the determination of the departments, advocacy efforts of VPHA and PPHA, on 26th November 2010, PPC officially approved of the plan with a total budget of almost 4 billion dongs. Then, on 9th December 2010, PPC chaired the plan implementation conference with all relevant departments to clearly define the specific responsibilities of each unit. This is an initial success of the program and it also shows the determination of the PPC as well as of the leaders of the departments relating to the issues of youths and adolescents.
In the future, VPHA and Dong Thap PPHA will deploy a series of measures to promote the youth and adolescent reproductive health care in Dong Thap with activities in order to strengthen communication skills and counseling on reproductive health for local officials; propagandize on mass media; make manuals and posters, organize propaganda competition about reproductive health for Communist youth union…
VPHA hopes with the support of the PPC and the consensus of the units, the program will overcome these limitations, enhance the policy enforcement, improve the efficiency of Dong Thap youth and adolescent reproductive health care, contribute to the development of healthy young human resources in the locality.
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