Below are some pilot projects:

Establishment of a community based model to change the negative habits on nutrition and improve the practical knowledge, physical and mental health of female adolescents and new married couples. 2007-08

This 2-year intervention research program trialed a new behavior change model and measured its impacts on participants.. The program was funded by the Dutch Government and the Vietnam National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and was implemented in one commune of Yen Bai province.  The project aimed to (1) change negative habits affecting nutrition status; (2) improve the nutrition status of participants; (3) reduce the anemia ratio in the targeted female groups and (4) improve the physical and mental health of the target audience.  A baseline survey implemented in September 2007 provided background information that assisted the research team to design the intervention model and IEC materials that was used to change the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of the target groups on nutrition.  The model then was revised slightly and was expanded into the two communes with the focus on ethnic minority people: An Binh (Van Yen, Yen Bai) and Canh Nau (Yen The, Bac Giang).  The pilot phase of all three models was completed by December 2008.  Experiences from the mode on community-based nutrition improvements were shared with related organizations at the summary workshops of the overall program on national nutrition innovative strategies and models in Da Lat 2009.  Download report summary in Vietnamese.

Integration of First-Aid Training into Driving-training courses. 2007-08

In collaboration with Ha Nam Red Cross Association, the RTCCD was awarded a prize by the Vietnam Innovation Day: Traffic safety.  Monitoring traffic accidents is very important for if victims receive proper first-aid within 12 hours following the incident the burden of the injuries suffered will be significantly reduced.  The innovative idea of the RTCCD was to integrate first-aid training into driving training courses with the aim of improving first aid knowledge and skills for approximately 3,000 drivers from 3 driving training centers in Ha Nam province.  The training of trainers course was held in September 2007 and produced a group of 15 key trainers for 3 driving schools in Ha Nam.  The RTCCD also developed CDs, manuals and educational materials for use in the training courses in addition to providing technical support to the Ha Nam Red Cross during the implementation process.  An assessment of the cost-effectiveness of the program was conducted and results were announced at the end of the first year of implementation.

An integrated community-based development strategy in Phu Tho. 2003-07

This project piloted the idea of community empowerment by giving local authorities and villagers rights and powers to design, implement, manage and supervise the implementation process of activities.  The RTCCD provided methodological assistance so that local people could manage activities that met their needs.  The project aimed to improve sanitation conditions and support for household latrines in YenMao & Phuong Mao communes of the Thanh Thuy district, Phu Tho province. The project is financed by the Province of Bolzano, Italy.  It was implemented over three years from 2002 – 2005.  During this time, over 100 water wells,, 103 double-compartment latrines, and 24 tanks for rain water were built.  Villagers were able to select the locations of the tanks, select the design of the tanks and wells and to supervise the purchase of materials and construction quality.  These attributes of the program made participants feel as if they were not part of a project..  Participants were given ownership to improve the livelihood of their communities and children.  These results show that the commune people have the capacity to construct their own household sanitation systems to a high quality.  The only thing that they required was tools to manage and record the progress and quality performance as well as self-autonomy.

Appropriate solutions for Anaemia control (ASAC). 2003-05

This community trial project was a collaboration with PATH Canada, CARE Canada, the University of Toronto, National Institution of Nutrition (NIN) and the RTCCD.  The study sought to identify a feasible, cost-effective strategy to reduce iron deficiency anemia in Vietnam.  The three interventions considered were cast iron pots, blue steel pots and a multivitamins and minerals supplement.  It was conducted in three rural communes of An Thi district, Hung Yen province.  The project was registered as a ministry-level one, and was approved by both scientific and ethic committees of the MoH.

This study only found weak evidence to support the use of Blue Steel pots, in the form of a dose-response relationship between compliance and infant SF response, and no evidence on the effectiveness of cast iron pots. Only those with compliance greater than once per day had a measurable effect.  The intervention was intended to run for six months-long enough to see an effect.

Our observations found that:

·         There is no evidence for cast iron efficacy in any group

·         There is weak evidence for Blue Steel pot efficacy in infants

·         Iron status is generally adequate in teens and WRA and there is no need to increase their iron intake

·         Iron status is often poor in infants and increasing their iron intake should be a priority

·         The pots were not very well liked, but if the design was improved, compliance would be likely to improve (results reported elsewhere), and Blue Steel pots are better received than cast iron pots

·         Both pots leach significant amounts of iron into typical Vietnamese foods, Blue Steel more so than Cast Iron;

·         Infants up until the age of 18 months usually eat and have their food prepared in a separate “infant pot” and only eat small amounts of food from the family pot