Posted April 1999
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Special: Empowering the rural disabled in Asia and the Pacific Disabled people in rural areas of Vietnam [2] from "Case studies: Strategies for the rural disabled in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam" by Johanne Hanko (FAO, 1998). For a copy of the report, contact John Rouse, SDA/FAO (e-mail: John.Rouse@fao.org) |
Vietnam is in full transition following the end of half a century of war and the establishment of political relations with the United States. From a state-subsidized economy it is quickly opening to the foreign market. Priorities are not given to the health services, as funds for information and training remain scarce. According to World Bank, it is estimated that 51 percent of the population is living under the poverty line. Salaries are still very low and there is little incentive to keep health and rehabilitation workers in jobs that will result in few long-term commitments. Infrastructure is limited. There are eight districts and 700 to 800 communes that are still not accessible by road.
Vietnam is working towards the integration of disabled people in activities such as rehabilitation, education, employment and job training as to integrate them into their communities. The Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs (MOLISA) estimates that there are 4.4 million persons with disabilities most of them resulting from war casualties, and over half a million caused by cerebral palsy. There is no clear definition of disability, consequently it is very difficult to know precisely the number of disabled persons in Vietnam. Low living standards also contribute to the number of disabled persons.
Within cattle raising, pigs are the most prominent, trailing far behind are goats, chickens and ducks. Fisheries products come from inland, marine and aquaculture. From forestry, the types of wood found in Vietnam include roundwood, fuelwood and charcoal, industrial round wood, sanlogs and veneer logs, sawwood and sleepers, wood based panels, wood pulp, paper and paperboard.
Natural resources include phosphates, coal, titanium ore, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, graphite, mica, manganese, iron ore, bauxite, chromate, apatite (input of phosphatic fertilizer), offshore oil deposits and natural gas. There is also some gold and gems.
During Government reform in 1988, land use rights were given to farmers for periods of 15 years allowing new farming activities. Surplus production could be kept by the farmers. In 1993, land-holding rights were rendered flexible and with 20-50 years of usage rights depending on the use, long-term investments were made possible. Agriculture returned to family business and products could be sold at market rates from the farmers themselves.
According to Vietnam's Country report on Social Development of 1995, five million disabled people are estimated, as a result of war, at seven percent of the total population. Of this number, 58 percent are women and 27 percent are children under the age of 15 years. The most common disabilities are loss of limbs, blindness, mental illness and paralysis. The Government of Vietnam wrote a Strategy for Socio-Economic Stabilization and Development until the Year 2000. Strategies which were approved in 1991, aim at:
The strategy is based on individuals as the center of development and promotes the potential in each person, in every community and for the whole country. It also aims to protect and enhance socio-cultural and spiritual development. Special provisions were made for disabled people to improve their standard of living. More attention is given to their right to education, training, employment and other social services.
Policies and Measures clearly show the intent of the Government.
"The state protects the right of disabled people to work an encourages enterprises and organizations to employ them. In a number of professions, the Government has set a quota for disabled people which enterprises must hire. If it fails to meet this requirement, the enterprise or organization must make a contribution to a fund used to create employment for disable people. Enterprises employing disabled people receive some incentives such as tax reductions and low-interest credits: The working hours of disabled people are limited to 7 hours per day or 42 hours per week. In addition, the Government has established a fund to provide disabled people with low-interest credit in order to assist them in creating employment and finding a stable source of income.To found the Association for the Protection of Disabled People of Viet Nam with the aim of mobilizing charitable aid from various social and economic organizations and individuals to assist disabled people. The State grants regular allowances to totally incapacitated invalids. Others who have no support are provided with accommodation and care either in special centers reserved for them or in the community where they live. However, given the current constraints on the economy, the number of disabled people accommodated in such facilities is still far lower than needed.
To establish schools, literacy classes and vocational courses for disabled people in provinces and cities, and to set up rehabilitation centers to help them recover the physical ability to work and thereby re-integrate into the community".
Although war disrupted the country from 1962 to 1976, rehabilitation for the disabled has only been included in the health system since 1986. Trained therapists are scarce and inexperienced offering little help based on past experience.
In 1996, the Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs (MOLISA) prepared a draft of a law aimed at protecting the Disabled in Vietnam. It is expected to pass at cabinet level before the end of 1997.
From 1966 to 1980, motor disabled people were considered as members of the agricultural co-operatives in the rural areas. Each cooperative member, including the disabled, received a minimum food supply (rice) ration, whether that person had actively taken part in producing activities or not. However, the more the person worked, the more substantial was the portion. With the renovation process of Vietnam, agricultural cooperatives do not exist any more. It is now the household that is the basic producing unit. An allowance is granted for each disabled member.
Since the August Revolution of 1945, labour laws have been established and a Labour Code was written to set provisions of the 1992 Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in regards to labour, labour utilization and administration. The Labour Code aims at protecting the rights of the work as well as the right to work. Specific articles within the labour code clearly show the intent of the Government to include disabled people in their programme.
To this effect, Vietnam has informed the secretariat of the incorporation, of the availability of provisions found in existing laws, regarding discriminatory provisions against people with disabilities.
The "Decree No. 81-CP to regulate the implementation of a number of sections of the Labour Code relating to Disabled Workers" provides regulations governing vocational training institutions in which at least 70 percent of the trainees are disabled, and enterprises in which at least 51 percent of the work force is disabled. Disability for the purposes of this text is established at more than 21 percent. This decree came into force on the 23 November 1995.
The "Decree No. 81-CP to regulate the implementation of a number of sections of the Labour Code relating to disabled workers" provides regulations governing vocational training institutions in which at least 70 percent of the trainees are disabled, and enterprises in which at least 51 percent of the work force is disabled. Disability for the purposes of this text is established at more than 21 percent. This decree came into force on the 23 November 1995.
The Labour Code is also looking into the implementation of a scheme of positive discrimination in favour of persons with disabilities through a quota system. This system would reserve a certain percentage (ranging from two to five percent) of places for persons capable of participating in training and employment programmes.
Several local and international organizations such as GOs and NGOs are dealing with disabled people in Vietnam. Although most of them do not deal exclusively for the disabled, they often include disabled persons in their programme.
Vietnam has a basically good education system. It has a literacy rate of 88 percent including 84 percent of women and 92 percent of men. In 1945, illiteracy rate was estimated at 95 percent. Rural education is almost as well developed as urban education. Literacy rate in rural areas is estimated at 87 percent compared to 94 percent for urban areas. During 1987 to 1991, school enrollment rate fell especially at the secondary level because of budget constraints. Teachers received reduced wages and therefore had to get a second job. Now enrollment rates are at a record high, however access to higher levels is still limited.
Today, the majority of students complete their primary education and may go on to secondary level. In 1994, approximately one percent reached tertiary education or postgraduate degrees. Girls account for a good proportion of the students. An estimated 50.7 percent girls are enrolled in primary level, 47.3 percent at secondary level, and 41.38 for higher education. Over one hundred universities and colleges are found around Vietnam along with about 300 vocational training and employment promotion centers throughout the country.
Schools in rural areas remain poor and are often made of thatch. Often run down, funds for repairs remain scarce. Because of the shortage in the number of buildings, schools must give three sessions per day. There is still a shortage of educational material, scientific equipment is outdated and the staff is often poorly qualified when available.
Proper health care remains a problem especially in rural areas with numerous cases of malaria and malnutrition resulting in high infancy and maternal mortality. In districts such as Tien Phuoc, there is a high percentage of children who suffer from mental and physical disabilities due to malnutrition and residual effects of the war. They are excluded from the public schools system. World Concern (WCI) is assisting in the construction of a rehabilitation school that will cater for 60 disabled children offering physical care and basic education. Families shall also receive training on how to take care of their children.
As in many countries, children with disabilities are nurtured and over- protected. It becomes difficult for these children to receive any kind of education and their physical, social and language skills will be jeopardized because of little interaction with their peers. The most severely disabled child can still learn some basic skills necessary for survival. The focus must be changed from what one cannot do to what are the abilities. This is true for disabled children and adults. Training has been offered by volunteers from the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in the central and southern parts of Vietnam to train orphanage workers who care for disabled children while World Concern (WCI) provides job skill training, micro-enterprise loans or job placement assistance and basic care to displaced children in seven provinces to help them start their life.
Nearly 26.63 percent of the disabled in rural areas are illiterate.
Almost 98.35 percent of the disabled in the rural area have no technical specialization nor attended any technical training course.
The Center for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) has set up a project for disability-training of trainers for mute and deaf children in Song Be. They also offer education exchange of professionals and teachers in engineering curriculum improvement and management support in Ho Chi Minh City. Christoffel Blindenmission has an integrated education programme in orientation and mobility for the blind, daily living skills training, prevocational training, in Hanoi. The Swedish Organization of Handicapped International Aid Foundation offers rehabilitation of the visually impaired in Ninh Binh, Tien Giang. Vietnam Assistance for the Handicapped offers rehabilitation through health clinics with a supply of artificial limbs for amputees and support in Can Tho.
The Vietnam Blind Association not only offers Braille classes but also offers vocational training in handicraft making, production of plastic and rubber goods, and household appliances repair. It also has mobility training, teacher training courses and a Braille library. Although it operates at the National level, it is based in Hanoi.
There are a number of training and production establishments throughout the country. Many disabled persons attending these centers find work following the training. In fact, not only do they find a job but they sometimes also become model workers and can play an active role in society. These centers offer training in areas such as sewing, television repair and small motor repair.
Even following two decades of peace, people are still suffering from the consequences of war. The social policy in place aims at helping people improve their living while implementing a regulating policy to encourage voluntary help. The Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs (MOLISA) in association with other Ministries, associations and organizations has created a housing project for the care of the victims of war. A project to build 50,000 houses has been completed with 100 trillion Dong spent to try and alleviate the consequences of war. These funds not only helped the war victims but also the families of war martyrs and war invalids. Those that fought for the opposing side have been rehabilitated and are also allowed some indemnities.
MOLISA is aiming at comforting and helping parents of war dead. Because many of these people have lost their children and some women have lost both husband and child, these people remain alone and are getting old with nobody to help them. The Vietnam Government has set up living arrangements in provinces such as Ya Ching, Du Nang, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, to take care of the old people as in a close nit community. It provides convalescent and basic care for those who are alone.
Several companies have volunteered to sponsor and contribute some money to help the needy. Even after the war, it is estimated that 300,000 tons of TNT remained unexploded. Removal of these explosives have resulted in 32,184 known accidents. The last one being a young 15 year old (the 32,185th wounded after the war) while gardening. Some factories provide help to helpless parents of war victims. For example, one factory hiring 6,000 workers is taking care of 200 old parents.
There is still a great need for proper health centers. An estimated 54 non- government organizations and 30 overseas organizations are helping set up and build rehabilitation centers. Germans had already started to build rehabilitation centers during the war. Funds from these organizations are used to build centers and set up projects all around the country. International organizations do not only help bring finance to the country, they also bring labour to lay down the foundations to help disabled persons lead a normal life.
Community support is requested for the integration of the disabled back into society. However, according to the Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs (MOLISA), out of the estimated tens of millions of people with disabilities around the country, only one tenth are thought to have received any form of rehabilitation or help.
Another project was set up in 1990 by Ms Maria Picasso. She has built the first "Picasso Village" in Thu Dung offering orphans and disabled children the comfort of a house in a family like atmosphere. Each house accepts 20 children. These youngsters stay within the housing project until they reach adulthood. SOS villages have now been set up in various cities such as Hanoi, Ha Fung, Ho Chi Minh and others. Meanwhile there are still many orphans waiting to receive care and love.
The visually impaired are considered by the Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs (MOLISA) as the most unfortunate of all of the disabled in Vietnam. The magnitude is seen as depressive. It is a colossal task to deal with the tens of thousands who need to be integrated into society and to help overcome the associated feeling of helplessness and of being a burden to society. During the past number of years, MOLISA has organized training and Braille courses with work teams. This has helped the visually impaired find work in the community and has encouraged integration through work and study. Training activities for the visually impaired includes weaving, and broom making.
Several NGOs are very active in Vietnam and initiated projects many years ago in both urban and rural areas around the country. Some of the NGOs are hereby presented:
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) established a rehabilitation center at Quang Ngai in 1967. They offer training, supplies and equipment.
World Vision worked in Vietnam prior to 1975. They are involved in medical and rehabilitation programmes. They also offer training in surgical techniques and physical therapy. Some projects were developed for agriculture mainly dealing in irrigation, small-scale family chicken farming and vegetable production.
Radda Barnen was founded in 1919 to work for children's rights. It supported Community Based Rehabilitation projects in Vietnam during 1990 to 1995 and has been involved in the integration of rehabilitation services into the primary health care system, namely Community Based Rehabilitation.
Christoffel Blinden Mission has been involved in Vietnam since 1981 mostly in medical and rehabilitation work, and some educational programme for the blind. It also provides financial assistance and a programme for the prevention of blindness was also set in place. It provides the Association for the Blind in Vietnam Braille paper and raw materials for the production of eyeglasses.
Save the Children fund (U.K.) started developing programmes in Vietnam after 1975 with emphasis on health and health education. It has also developed income generation and disaster management with vocational training.
Free University of Amsterdam has been involved in rehabilitation and special education with emphasis on institution building, professional training and teacher training. Projects have been in the areas of wheelchair tricycles, artificial eye laboratories, special education, leprosy work and rehabilitation.
International Red Cross, Ho Chi Minh City started its activities in 1989 to start producing component parts for prosthesis.
Handicap International offers training courses especially in making mobility aids (walkers, crutches, walking sticks, calipers, splints and wheelchairs).
Bernard Betrancourt - International Committee of the Red Cross was involved with the seven rehabilitation centers around the country (1990) and in the production of 4,000 prostheses and orthopedic apparatus per year as well as tricycle wheelchairs.
World Vision was involved in rehabilitation by providing money and food along with small necessities. Some tools and equipment were also provided.
Case study No. 2
Name: Unknown
Sex: Female
Disability: Loss of both legs
Location: Outside the city
Activity: On the eve of her wedding, she stepped on a mine and lost both her legs. Unable to buy a wheel chair, she walks on two stools to reach the area where she shells's coconuts. She also takes care of her house. She considers life difficult and hopes to get a wheel chair in the future to allow her to move around more freely.
Vietnam is still an agrarian society. As mentioned in the World Bank report of 1997, 28 percent of its GDP is provided by agriculture. There is a need for intensification of rice cultivation. At present, because of lack of irrigation, there is only one crop per year. Other crops to be developed are tea, coffee, sugar and rubber. Vietnam should look at changing the structure of output towards high value products such as fruits, livestock, aquatic product, vegetables and flowers.
Industry is booming and is now providing 30 percent of the GDP. Industrial products such as steel, garments, footwear and printing are rapidly developing. The oil industry in 1995 accounted for 16 percent of industrial activity. About 50 percent of all industry comes from food and food stuff (about 31 percent) and production of petroleum and other fuels (16 percent). Electricity, chemicals, construction materials and textiles each account for slightly more than 5 percent.
Tourism is a major activity and consequently 42 percent of the GDP is contributed by services. There were 1.5 million visitors in Vietnam during the year of 1996.
According to the study by ILO in 1995, women make a substantial contribution to the Vietnamese economy by holding 44 to 80 percent of the labour force. The majority of the population remains engaged in primary sectors; agriculture, forestry and fishery. Other sectors involving a majority of men include mining, metallurgy, electric and mechanic (4.3 percent), building glass, material and wood production (4.9 percent) and transport (3.5 percent). Sectors predominantly controlled by women include education, science, medicine (4.4 percent) weaving, clothing, leather and wool production (4.7 percent) and sales and supplies (8.3 percent).
Training and work skills are not the only things necessary for the welfare of the disabled person, capital is needed. A policy framework needs to be set into place in favor of normal development, the state must create a favorable atmosphere so that the community can facilitate feasible working conditions. This is the pathway for the disabled person in Vietnam, as seen by Government policy, so as to integrate the disabled into the community and to participate in the National Renovation and Development Cause.
Unemployment in rural areas was estimated at 3.6 percent for male and 3.0 percent for female workers compared to the urban situation of 12.3 percent for men and 12.2 percent for women, according to the 1989 census.
| Occupational Group | Male (5) | Female (5) | Total (5) |
| Agriculture
Forestry/fishery |
71.0 |
72.8 |
71.9 |
|
Statistics
Finance Economics Planning |
2.2 |
2.0 |
2.1 |
|
Science
Education Medicine |
2.3 |
4.4 |
3.4 |
|
Mining
Metallurgy Electric Mechanic Chemical Industry |
4.3 |
0.9 |
2.5 |
|
Paper
Printing Publishing |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
| Clothing
Leather/wool Production |
1.2 |
4.7 |
3.0 |
| Food processing |
1.1 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
|
Building
Glass Material Wood industry |
4.9 |
2.0 |
3.4 |
|
Transport |
3.5 |
0.3 |
1.8 |
|
Sales
Supplies |
2.4 |
8.3 |
5.1 |
|
Public service |
1.7 |
0.6 |
1.1 |
|
Other |
5.3 |
2.6 |
4.0 |
|
Total |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
| Source: Sample Results - Vietnam Population Census. Central Census Committee, Hanoi 1990 | |||
Victims of war do not wish to be a burden to their family and to society. They wish to work and remain master of their own lives. The Vietnamese Government's Social Policy has allowed he disabled to be treated with sympathy and humane feelings.
Many have already continued their activities in farming, in the production of vegetables and other agriculture and non-agriculture activities.
Every disabled person has different faith, losses and needs. Although the Social Policy of Vietnam is written for all in general, it must seek out the individual.
 
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