Training of Trainers for the EM-THRIVE Project in Can Tho City (Soc Trang Area)

From January 28 to 30, 2026, the Provincial Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in Can Tho City (Soc Trang area) organized a Training of Trainers (TOT) course under the EM-THRIVE project “Promoting early childhood development through positive parenting interventions in five provinces and cities in Viet Nam.”

The training course aimed to strengthen the capacity of healthcare professionals in maternal health care and Early Childhood Development, while building a core team of trainers capable of implementing program activities at the local level.

The EM-THRIVE project focuses on improving care and development outcomes for young children, particularly in disadvantaged communities.

The training brought together leaders from departments and divisions of the CDC, along with 20 healthcare workers from provincial, district, and grassroots levels, including preventive medicine staff and maternal and child health care providers.

Over the three-day training, participants were equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, including:

• The role of parents in Early Childhood Development
• Positive parenting and responsive care practices
• First aid techniques, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Maternal nutrition during pregnancy
• Management of injuries, bleeding, and snake bites

The program adopted a flexible and interactive approach, combining lectures, group discussions, hands-on practice, and sharing of real-life experiences.

Through the TOT course, participants not only strengthened their professional competencies but were also prepared to become resource trainers. They are expected to cascade training to colleagues—particularly Commune Health Workers at Commune Health Stations—and implement parent support activities within their communities. This approach contributes to expanding the reach and sustainability of the EM-THRIVE project at the local level. At the end of the course, six outstanding participants were selected to continue delivering training for commune-level health staff.

The training received positive feedback from both participants and unit leaders, reflecting a strong commitment to applying the knowledge and skills gained into practice. By enhancing the capacity of the local health workforce, the program contributes to improving the quality of care, nurturing, and Early Childhood Development outcomes in the Soc Trang area in particular, and across the participating provinces and cities more broadly.