| Administrative History | Allocations: 1962-1979, 1983-1992; programme spending in 1993/94, 1994/95; see later annual reports for subsequent allocations.
In 1962 SCF made a grant of £3000 to Vietnam following severe flooding of the Mekong River Delta. This was followed by further grants for flood relief during the 1960s.
In 1967 SCF opened a convalescent centre in Qui Nhon, Binh Dinh Province, to provide treatment for children injured in the Vietnam War, children with long-term illnesses such as polio or tuberculosis, and sick and malnourished children from nearby refugee camps and orphanages. The work of the Centre included training for local personnel. In addition SCF staff carried out intensive measles clinics in refugee camps on the outskirts of the city. The location was dangerous due to the proximity of fighting; in mid-1972 the SCF team had to relocate temporarily to Nha Trang, where they provided nursing care in the hospital and refugee camps, before returning to Qui Nhon later that year.
After the ceasefire in January 1973, SCF began the Orphanage Aid Project in Saigon [Ho Chi Minh City]. SCF trained local personnel to work in the orphanages, and supported parents to care for children at home by opening day care centres and providing financial assistance through the Sponsorship Scheme. SCF established the Medical Aid programme in co-operation with the Danish and Norwegian SCFs who provided medical personnel, and the Canadian and Swedish SCFs who provided additional funds. The programme provided medical teams to work in refugee camps at Phu Tai (outside Qui Nhon), and refugee camps north of Da Nang. SCF also worked with the Ministry of Social Welfare to research child social problems.
During the 1980s SCF worked on Primary Health Care projects in South Vietnam. SCF went on to develop a Social Welfare programme based in Ho Chi Minh City in South Vietnam, including projects relating to HIV/AIDS education, children with disabilities, neglected children and homeless families.
In the late 1980s SCF started a programme in Quang Ninh, North-Eastern Vietnam, including projects relating to micro economic development, education, and ethnic minorities.
In the 1990s SCF ran projects in the Hai Phong Province including a Revolving Drug Scheme and a Health Financing and Primary Health Care programme. From 1993-1996 SCF ran the Hanoi Medical School programme, to upgrade management systems and training at the medical school.
SCF launched its North Central programme in Vietnam in the 1990s, extending its work to Nghe Tinh and Ha Tinh provinces. Projects in these areas included fishing and agricultural programmes to support food supply and income generation, disaster preparedness, a saving and credit programme, and primary health care. |