Report on – 33rd IC Resolution 2: Addressing mental health and psychosocial needs of people affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies (33IC/19/R2) – Vietnam Red Cross Society

Has your State/National Society/Institution incorporated the commitments contained in this resolution into the relevant strategic or operational plans?

The commitments are incorporated into:
Strategy
Policy
Operational plan

At the National level

Explanation:

Vietnam Red Cross Development Strategy to 2030, vision to 2045 “Innovation for sustainable development” includes content on first aid and psychological support in the field of health care and prevention, disaster response, epidemics and in emergency situations. The VNRC organizes First Aid activities and has a number of psychological first aid activities including: food support, food, drinking water, family kits, mobile toilets… for subjects affected by natural disasters and catastrophes.

Responding to pandemics and emergency epidemics such as the COVID-19 epidemic, VNRC has provided assistance to people in epidemic areas, agricultural product consumption points supporting farmers epidemic areas, family shopping bags distributed at home to people in blockaded areas, free rice ATM  transporting patients and bringing people back to their hometowns; Transporting medical supplies, necessities, giving away free oxygen tanks, supporting the purchase of medicine and necessities for patients; Health consultation, quick test; providing ventilators, masks, epidemic prevention kits, and support for families and COVID-19 patients; provide Wi-fi broadcasting equipment; mobilize and provide epidemic prevention equipment: oxygen ventilators, negative pressure air filtration rooms, cardboard beds, antiseptic water…

First aid activities are deployed in some localities when assisting, contacting, calling emergency services for victims, and trained volunteers collect and provide information related to victims. to coordinate with relevant units to bring victims to medical facilities; Coordinated 01 training session on initial psychological first aid for the provincial response team in the emergency relief program. However, other activities in the field of mental health and psychological first aid such as treatment support; Connecting to treatment and in-depth consultation; Training, coaching, professional communication in this field, psychological first aid… do not have the resources to deploy and implement.

Has your State/National Society/Institution been working with other partners to implement the commitments contained in this resolution?

Partner with:
Government and/or public authorities
ICRC/IFRC

Examples of cooperation:

Related ministries, governmental agencies, mass organizations have regulations, circulars and regulations on how to respond to natural disasters, where VNRC is participated.

In the field of disaster prevention and response: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention; Department of Hydrometeorology, National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting: have collaborated with VNRC in the areas of disaster prevention and response field Providing trigger thresholds, providing disaster-based forecast, work as assigned by the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

For the health care sector: Participate as a member of the National Steering Committee on responding to epidemics and pandemics; coordinate and work with relevant departments, agencies and institutes of the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education and Training; National Traffic Safety Committee…

The IFRC has supported VNRC for integrating funding allocation on first aid and psychological first aid activities; 01 officer of the VNRC was trained in psychological first aid.

Have you encountered any challenges in implementing the commitments contained in this resolution?

With challenges on:
Human resources
Funding constraints
Lack of specific knowledge/expertise
Lack of capacity and/or support (technical, financial, or other)

Details about challenges:

Resources to deploy psychological first aid activities are limited; Funding to implement this activity is not yet available. The VNRC has not yet organized training of trainers and for volunteers There has not been training for trainers and volunteers to widely deploy; There is no set of documents… on psychological first aid. Currently, there is only 1 officer of the Vietnam Red Cross Society trained in psychological first aid. Appoint 01 officer to participate in the Asia Pacific Mental Health Support and Psychological First Aid network (AP MHPSS).

Have the commitments contained in this resolution had an impact on the work and direction of your State/National Society/Institution?

Type of Impact:
Cooperation between Government/public authorities and National Society has been strengthened
Programming and operations have become more effective and efficient
Partnerships with other humanitarian actors have been created or enhanced
Training and capacity of staff and volunteers has increased (for National Societies)

Details about the impact:

The implementation activities of the VNRC mainly focus on First Aid: providing immediate assistance to sick or injured people until professional help arrives. First aid interventions aim to preserve life, relieve suffering, prevent further illness or injury, and promote recovery

Have the commitments contained in this resolution had an impact on the communities that your State/National Society/Institution serves?

Description of the impact:

VNRC has committed for implementing the resolution through different approaches.