On 27 October 2025, at the Can Tho Department of Education and Training (DOET), nearly 300 teachers and school health staff from preschools, primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary schools across the newly expanded Can Tho City—formed through the merger of the former Can Tho City, Soc Trang, and Hau Giang—participated in the five-day annual training course on adolescent reproductive health and school health care.
Sharing the Early Journey of Life (EJOL) Program
Recognizing the importance and effectiveness of integrated interventions, the Can Tho City Centre for Disease Control (CDC) invited the Research and Training Centre for Community Development (RTCCD) to present the Early Journey of Life (EJOL) [1]intervention—an essential component of the EM-THRIVE Project [2] (Enabling Mountainous and Rural Children From Five Provinces in Vietnam to Grow and Thrive).
The short presentation introduced how EJOL helps children reach their full potential through caregiver skills training delivered across multiple settings—from families and health facilities to schools.
Health–Education Collaboration for Child Development
Dr. Tran Thi Thu Hong, Specialist Level I, from the Can Tho City CDC, remarked:
“The Early Journey of Life model is meaningful and humane, integrating a multi-sectoral approach that is innovative and highly relevant for both health workers and caregivers. The content is simple, easy to understand, and can be effectively implemented through the education system—especially by preschool teachers.”
In 2025, the Can Tho CDC will focus on the health sector, integrating EJOL into the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) at commune health stations, vaccination centers, and maternity–pediatrics departments across hospitals.
In 2026, the health sector plans to collaborate with the Department of Education and Training to introduce the program in preschools and primary schools, ensuring that all children in the newly formed Can Tho City (including former Hau Giang and Soc Trang areas) can benefit from this meaningful initiative.