The project conducts training for the health staff and relevant organizations in the selected project areas, i.e. 12 districts and 48 communes in the four provinces of Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, and Ha Tinh. The training activity has two stages.

First stage training:
In Nghe An Province, training and workshops for the leaders and key persons of the four provinces are organized with the support of Japanese experts for dissemination and replication of the experiences and expertise accumulated in Nghe An Province through the Reproductive Health Project, Phase I (1997-2000) and II (2000-2005). The participants are expected to acquire know-how to improve the quality of RH services. At the same time, the Nghe An counterparts receive on-job training on training management by Japanese experts.

Second stage training:
After the firsts stage training, upon returning to their respective provinces, the trainers of the four provinces conduct training for the improvement of knowledge and skills on various subjects, such as:

1.Re-training of CHC staff and district health staff in charge of RH services
2.Training on how to conduct supportive monitoring effectively
3.Workshops on the promotion of client friendly services
4.Workshops on effective IEC/BCC and RH knowledge dissemination in collaboration with the Women's Union in the community

Commune Health Center

IEC/BCC Maggie Apron Workshop

Achievements in JFY2007
An accumulated total of about 170 persons participated in the training workshops and study visits in Nghe An Province to learn the methods of effective re-training and supportive monitoring, promotion of client friendly services, organization of parent classes, etc.

The number of clients who visit RHCCs in the four provinces increased after they started parents class and client friendly services. The staff of 48 CHCs in the project areas who received training acknowledged that they were able to update their RH knowledge and brush up their practical skills that needed in daily services. Over 250 Women's Union staff learnt how to use the Maggie Apron and started organizing health education sessions with the Maggie Apron with the health staff in their community. In some areas, RH education sessions for adolescents were conducted in collaboration with schools.

Group work during workshop

Re-training of CHC staff

Counterpart training in Japan
In February �EMarch 2008, two staff each from five provincial RHCCs, a total of 10 participants took part in the counterpart training in Japan. In Toyama Prefecture, the participants observed activities and efforts in improving community health, such as the collaboration among the local government, health centers, primary and secondary schools, and health volunteers. The participants visited the “Katsushika�ERed Cross Hospital and the “Yajima�E “Fun�Eand “Matsugaoka�EMaternity Clinics where they learnt how to care for pregnancy and delivery from the view point of women. The participants enthusiastically discussed what they could do to improve RH services and expressed their willingness to enrich the contents of the parent classes that they currently conduct, to expand RH services for adolescents, to fulfill the unmet needs of women in menopause, etc. At the end of the training, reflecting applicable lessons learnt in Japan, the participants formulated action plans for improving the training of CHC staff, and enhancing RH services at RHCCs.

Launching activities for JFY2008 (April 2008 ~ March 2009)
In 2008, the project will reach a turning point in the three year period. Based on the experiences gained in the previous years, the counterparts in five provinces are ready to continue their activities, learning from both the Nghe An model and each other's advantages as good rivals.

Demonstration of pregnancy simulator

Counterpart training in Japan(GW)