Lam Dong (formerly Binh Thuan): Meeting to Prepare for Monitoring and Supporting the Implementation of EM-THRIVE Program Activities

On the afternoon of March 24, 2026, the Lam Dong Provincial Centre for Disease Control (CDC) (formerly Binh Thuan province), in collaboration with the Research and Training Centre for Community Development (RTCCD), held a meeting to prepare for monitoring and supporting the implementation of EM-THRIVE program activities integrated with the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) at Commune Health Stations. The meeting took place in the first quarter of 2026.

The meeting aimed to ensure adequate preparation of human resources and implementation approaches for supervisory staff. At the same time, technical support methods were provided to improve the effectiveness of Commune Health Workers in organizing communication sessions and providing counseling to caregivers in accordance with the program’s procedures and content.

In 2025, Lam Dong province (formerly Binh Thuan province) achieved many positive results in implementing the program: successfully organizing 6 out of 6 training courses at commune/ward level; distributing 106 toolkits to stations and hospitals; and initially integrating the program effectively into activities at Commune Health Stations. These efforts contributed to raising caregivers’ awareness of Early Childhood Development and holistic child care.

Entering 2026, the EM-THRIVE program in Lam Dong province (formerly Binh Thuan province) continues to focus on promoting the holistic development of children in the first 2,000 days of life, while improving parents’ skills in positive caregiving and parenting. At the same time, the program will strengthen monitoring, standardize reporting processes, and apply information technology to enhance management and implementation efficiency. However, the meeting also highlighted several challenges, including limited time for implementation, inadequate infrastructure at some Commune Health Stations, uneven practical skills among Commune Health Workers, and difficulties in data collection and reporting.

Speaking at the meeting, a representative of the CDC leadership acknowledged and commended the efforts of staff in implementing the program over the past period. It was also emphasized that in the coming time, it is necessary to further strengthen implementation, monitoring, and reporting to ensure that the EM-THRIVE program is carried out effectively and sustainably, bringing practical benefits to children in the province.