A is for Assessment

Have you noticed some changes in what we have been posting lately? With your help VNHIP recently provided a little girl and her grandmother who had no mode of transport with new bikes! We are also in the process of raising money for a family to build a life changing toilet in their home! Our aim at VNHIP is to improve the health of individuals and communities in Vietnam and our organization is growing and understanding that the concept of ‘health’ is multifaceted and that health needs are not limited to medical care and treatment. 
 

Earlier this year the team developed a tool to assess the holistic health of children living with HIV currently in our program. Each child and their family are now being assessed annually on not only their physical health but also their emotional, social and environmental health. Evidence is stacking up internationally that all of these dimensions of health are intrinsically linked http://www.who.int/social_determinants/en/ . This assessment helps us identify needs (like those mentioned above) and you, our wonderful supporters, generously help us meet them!

The information gained in this process has invigorated not only those in the program but also the team at VNHIP. It has definitely challenged us to put our thinking caps on as we partner with these children and families while they hurdle obstacles every day. The assessment is breaking down barriers and helping us gain a deeper understanding into the lives of these children and their families, their joys, their challenges and their sorrows. One thing which we have learnt is that many of these families have multiple health needs which they can not possibly meet on their own and that there is a constant battle in choosing which of these needs is the bigger priority.

While this assessment can be somewhat confronting and emotionally challenging for everyone involved there are some truly beautiful moments. My favourite part of this assessment is when we ask the child and their carer what their personal strengths are. Even though I don’t speak Vietnamese I know when this question is asked – the general response is a startled look and either a laugh or a shake of the head. Sometimes there is no answer, sometimes there is a blush in response, and sometimes the child says 'I am strong' or 'I am caring' or 'I am honest' and every time it totally blows me away.