MANUAL OF INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS IN HOSPITAL

On November 8, 2023, Ms. Duong Phuong Hanh - Director of the Center for Research and Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CED) was invited to attend the meeting of the Editorial Board to develop a Manual of instructions for medical examination and treatment support for people with hearing loss at the hospital that was organized by the Department of Medical Service Administration, Ministry of Health.

Attending the meeting were Associate Professor Dr. Tran Trong Hai, Chairman of the Vietnam Rehabilitation Association; Dr. Vuong Anh Duong, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Service Administration; Specialist Level I Doctor Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich, Deputy Head of Rehabilitation and Assessment Service, Department of Medical Service Administration; and Representatives from the Rehabilitation Department of several hospitals; Representatives of parents and teachers of children with hearing loss. The meeting agenda unanimously approved two main issues: recompiling the content of CED's Manual of instructions for supporting people with hearing loss at hospitals, and the form of issuing this manual.

The Manual of instructions for supporting people with hearing loss at hospitals was compiled by the Center for Research and Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CED) in 2021 that CED had sponsorship from the Justice Initiative Facilitation Fund (JIFF) and Oxfam Vietnam. CED organized two workshops with 56 attendees to get feedback on the Manual. CED also received over 80 online comments for the Manual. After receiving final approval from Oxfam, CED shared the Manual with many hospitals, especially over 30 hospitals that have signed interpretation contracts with CED. CED also proposed to the Department of Medical Service Administration, Ministry of Health to turn the Manual into a document issued by the Ministry.

Now, the Manual Editorial Board has been established under Decision No. 4052/QD-BYT signed by Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan on November 3, 2023. This is a great success of CED with the contributions of sponsors JIFF/Oxfam, people with hearing loss, parents of children with hearing loss, teachers, medical staff, ... who have trusted, participated in and supported CED's activities.

CED wishes the Department of Medical Service Administration, Ministry of Health to successfully compile the Manual and soon issue it to hospitals and the community.

With CED, everything is possible.