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Primary healthcare capacity building for management of common infectious diseases in Viet Nam

What is the project?

The project is aimed at bolstering the diagnostic capacity for managing prevalent infectious diseases at primary health care (PHC) facilities in Viet Nam. With a focus on supporting the National Essential Diagnostic List (NEDL) implementation, the project’s overarching goal is to strategize the incorporation of the new NEDL, which was developed with FIND’s support within the framework of the EDL project from 2021 to 2023, into routine care of PHC system. The project will generate valuable evidence on the impact of increased access to essential diagnostics at PHC, particularly in managing priority diseases among specific groups, such as Syphilis, HBV, HCV, HIV and rubella infections in pregnant women; gonorrhoea and chlamydia in women of 21-65 years of age; Influenza A, B, RSV, and rotavirus infection in young children and amoebic dysentery in general population.

Why are we working on it?

Strengthening PHC plays a pivotal role in achieving universal health coverage (UHC) in Viet Nam and has long been a key priority in the country’s health development policy. However, the current PHC system faces multiple challenges, including limited availability and access to essential diagnostics, leading to subpar service quality. To achieve UHC, essential diagnostics must be incorporated into health service packages, requiring guidance on implementation considering available resources, national UHC priorities, efficiency, population coverage and potential health impact.
FIND has been actively supporting the introduction of essential diagnostic tests for common infectious respiratory diseases, such as GeneXpert for TB and antigen rapid diagnostic tests (Ag RDTs) for COVID-19, influenza, RSV, and Streptococcus group A, at PHC facilities, including District Health Centers (DHCs) and Commune Health Stations (CHSs), which have limited or no testing capacity. This project will further introduce other RDTs for diagnosing prevalent infections, with a special focus on maternal and child health.

What are its objectives?

The project aims to:

  • Enhance diagnostic capacity at PHC facilities in Viet Nam for managing common infectious diseases.
  • Provide catalytic support to PHC facilities by providing test kits and supplies, continued technical assistance through monitoring and evaluation, and strengthening the supply chain.
  • Evaluate the impact of capacity building through improved health service assessment, the feasibility of incorporation the testing into the PHC system, the acceptability of healthcare staff and end users and the cost-effectiveness of the testing to ensure long term sustainability.

What does it involve?

The project involves:

  • Establishing processes for screening, diagnostic testing, counselling, treatment, and patient management in case of detection.
  • Developing of communication programme, that includes radio broadcasting, leaflets, and posters.
  • Developing and deploying the YTCS software (ytcs.vn) to support healthcare workers with the implementation of the overall project procedure as well as support project coordinators with the management of project activities.
  • Organizing on-site training programs for participating healthcare facilities.
  • Procuring and distributing test kits, reagent, and consumables.
  • Providing technical support, desktop computers, monitoring, and evaluation, as well as communication materials.
  • Implementing diagnostic testing at healthcare facilities.
  • Assessing the feasibility and impact of the model to propose scaling-up plans.

What is the expected outcome?

The anticipated outcomes include:

  • Testing 600 pregnant women for HIV/Syphilis, HBV, HCV, and Rubella.
  • Testing 4,000 children under 5 years old with diarrheal symptoms for rotavirus and Entamoeba histolytica.
  • Testing 4,000 children under 5 years old with respiratory symptoms for influenza A, B, and RSV.
  • Testing 1,500 individuals above 5 years old with diarrheal symptoms for Entamoeba histolytica.
  • Testing 1,000 women aged 21-65 years without pregnancy for gonorrhoea and chlamydia.
  • Conducting a communication program to educate approximately 500,000 people in the catchment area on prevention and control of common diseases.
  • Building the diagnostic capacity at PHC facilities (grassroots healthcare level), which previously lacked such capacity.
  • Assessment report on improvement of health service, feasibility of incorporation the testing into the PHC system, acceptability of healthcare staff and end users and the cost-effectiveness of the testing.

What is the time scale?

The project is scheduled to run from October 2022 to December 2023.

Partners and Funding

The project is jointly undertaken by FIND Viet Nam and Hai Phong Provincial Department of Health, Hai Phong Provincial CDC, with funding from Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.