Introduction of the Early Journey Program to the Dong Nai Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

On 17 July 2026, at the Dong Nai Department of Health, the Research and Training Centre for Community Development (RTCCD) held a working meeting with leaders of the Dong Nai Department of Health (DOH) and the Dong Nai Center for Disease Control (CDC) to introduce the Early Journey Program and learn more about local culture, customs, and the opportunities and challenges faced by the health sector in implementing community-based programs at the local level.

The meeting was attended by leaders and technical staff from the Dong Nai Department of Health and CDC Dong Nai, including:

• Mr. Huynh Tu Anh – Deputy Head of the Professional Affairs Division, Dong Nai Department of Health
• Ms. Tran Thi Ngan, Specialist Level I – Head of the Reproductive Health Department, CDC Dong Nai
• Ms. Pham Kha – Head of the Reproductive Health Department

RTCCD introduced the Early Journey Program to help leaders of the Dong Nai Department of Health and CDC Dong Nai gain an understanding of the program and its implementation progress across the four provinces/cities currently participating in the program.

During the meeting, DOH leaders shared their perspectives on the challenges and enabling factors involved in implementing community-based programs at the local level, particularly in ethnic minority communities. The discussion also provided valuable insights into local cultural practices and considerations that should be taken into account when adapting program activities to the provincial context.

Following the meeting with the DOH and CDC leadership, the RTCCD team travelled to Tan Hung Commune, home to the Xtieng ethnic community, to learn more about local culture, customs and practices, particularly childcare and parenting practices. These insights will inform the contextualization and refinement of the program’s tools and materials for implementation in Dong Nai.

CDC Dong Nai leaders also provided recommendations on how the Early Journey Program could be implemented in Dong Nai to facilitate smooth and effective implementation and ensure that activities are appropriately adapted to the local context.

The Department of Health and CDC Dong Nai provided strong support to the RTCCD field team and facilitated the team’s visit to Tan Hung Commune to learn about local culture and customs. The insights gathered during the fieldwork will contribute to further adapting and refining the program materials to ensure they are culturally appropriate and responsive to the needs of the local community.