JICA helps Vietnamese hospitals improve infection control capability

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) presented the first batch of the aid package of 2,000 handbooks entitled “Guidelines on Infection Control Practices” to Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City on June 3.

The cover of the handbook “Guidelines on Infection Control Practices.” (Photo: JICA)
The cover of the handbook “Guidelines on Infection Control Practices.” (Photo: JICA)

According to JICA Vietnam, in order to support the country in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and on the basis of a request for assistance from its partner agencies, JICA has decided to continue implementing aid packages worth JPY60 million (roughly US$551,503) for Cho Ray Hospital and worth JPY20 million (US$183,842) for the provincial Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs) in Nam Dinh, Ha Giang , Bac Giang, Vinh Phuc, Kien Giang and Tra Vinh.

The handbook was compiled by the Department of Infection Control at Cho Ray Hospital with technical support from JICA experts. It is expected to enhance the infection control capability of the Cho Ray Vietnam-Japan Friendship Hospital, to be built in the near future, as well as 21 southern provincial hospitals currently under Cho Ray Hospital’s support structure.

In order to improve high-quality patient-centric health services, JICA is implementing a project on technical cooperation to enhance hospital management capacity for Cho Ray Hospital, through applying safety processes for patients, clinical processes and multidisciplinary team coordination, as well as strengthening hospital infection control measures. The aforementioned aid package also aims to serve that goal.

Previously, in August 2019, to enhance infection control measures for Cho Ray Hospital, JICA Project conducted training courses on the use of protective equipment for doctors and nurses at the hospital. Even before the first COVID-19 case was confirmed and taken to Cho Ray Hospital for treatment in January 2020, JICA experts had provided the curriculum and implemented relevant training sessions on hospital infection control.