Implementing agencies

• Category

  Project

• Date time

  From 2022 to present

• Field

  Good Health And Well-Being

The "The Little Underwear Story" project was initiated by the Blue Ribbon Organization in 2022 with the goal of creating mobile stations to provide counseling and cervical health checkups for women in remote areas, primarily focusing on Central and Northern Vietnam. The project operates on three levels: knowledge sharing, organizing health checkups, and establishing local counseling stations. From 2022 to the end of September 2023, the project has reached four stations in remote communes, including Gia Lai, Hue, Tra Cang Commune (Nam Tra My District, Quang Nam Province), and Sang Ma Sao Commune (Bat Xat District, Lao Cai Province).

Part 1

Starting background of the project

Women in remote mountainous areas face a high rate of severe gynecological infections. Personal hygiene is often limited due to factors such as working in the fields, with some women returning home only once every week or month; a lack of clean water sources, relying on water from streams; no access to appropriate gynecological products; and economic difficulties. The shortage of medical personnel and inadequate healthcare infrastructure in local clinics also exacerbates the situation. The cost of consultations and follow-up visits is another significant barrier for women in these regions. There is a critical need for reproductive health education, especially on proper hygiene practices and disease prevention.

After a year of scouting and surveys, Nơ Xanh Vietnam identified that many women in remote areas still lack access to healthcare facilities and have not been educated on how to protect and care for their uterine health and postpartum care.

Furthermore, Chung Thúy Linh, the founder of Nơ Xanh, has extensive experience in maternal health care and has observed many cases of gynecological and uterine-related illnesses. These issues could potentially be prevented if women were educated on proper health care practices. Each year, 5,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, with 14 new cases and 7 deaths occurring daily. Ninety percent of women suffer from gynecological problems, particularly vaginitis. The incidence of gynecological diseases increases by 15%-27% annually.

Despite the rising rates of these health issues and increasing risk factors, no organization is specifically focused on uterine health care for women, with long-term goals aimed at community development. Therefore, Nơ Xanh Vietnam seeks to create a project model with a profound and sustainable impact by establishing mobile stations to provide counseling and health checkups for women in remote and mountainous regions.

Part 2

Project innovation/ invention

To address this issue, Nơ Xanh Vietnam initiated the "Small Underwear Story" project, which operates both online and offline, to raise awareness and educate women in remote regions about the importance of proper hygiene and preventing gynecological diseases. The project aims to change attitudes and increase knowledge about personal hygiene and disease prevention for women in these areas.

Additionally, Nơ Xanh Vietnam has developed a model of mobile stations to share knowledge and provide health checkups for women in remote communities through the following activities:

- Sharing: Professional doctors provide education on three steps for proper hygiene, identifying gynecological diseases, and how to prevent them. Gift packages are also given to the women.

- Support: Office supplies are provided to local health workers, as well as medical items for health checkups, such as single-use plastic speculums, gloves, etc.

(Depending on the local circumstances, additional support activities may be included, but the structure of the project remains consistent across all stations.)

Part 3

Goals and vision of the project

Goals

- Raise awareness and knowledge about uterine health within the female community, while promoting education and information on the prevention of gynecological diseases.

- Encourage a healthy lifestyle and comprehensive healthcare for women, helping them foster personal and community development.

- Create a favorable environment for women to access and utilize uterine health services, including improving access to and the quality of healthcare services in local communities.

Vision

Support and develop mobile gynecological education, counseling, and health check-up programs in remote areas, aiming to improve health and prevent diseases among women.

Part 4

Implementation - Scope - Cost of the project 

Implementation - Scope

In 2022, the project "The Story of the Small Underwear" was launched, beginning with a survey and pre-deployment phase. The first two stations, Gia Lai and Thua Thien Hue, were visited, where information was shared, proper genital hygiene was taught, and gifts were distributed to nearly 600 local women.

In February 2023, the project moved on to the third station in Tra Cang commune, Nam Tra My district, Quang Nam. The main event took place from May 19-21 at the Tra Cang Health Station, where it was expected to reach 400 Xê-đăng women. Activities included distributing Nơ Xanh gift packages (which included sanitary pads, underwear, and wash), teaching proper hygiene practices for the vulva, providing pelvic floor exercises, and other meaningful contributions to the local community.

From September to October 2023, the project continued its mission at the fourth station in Sang Ma Sao commune, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province, from October 23-24. It was expected to reach 300 H'Mong women, offering Nơ Xanh gift packages containing basic supplies and a community gynecological medicine cabinet. Gynecological check-ups were provided, along with essential medical equipment and other local support.

In October 2023, Nơ Xanh also provided gynecological treatment for 250 women suffering from gynecological infections.

Cost

The total implementation cost for each station is approximately 65 million VND per station. Additionally, there have been significant contributions and support from individuals and donor organizations.

Part 5

Achievements 

Nơ Xanh has visited 4 station points and received positive feedback regarding the change in awareness and the improvement in the health of women in remote areas. Through the dissemination of reproductive health knowledge, it has helped raise awareness about the protection and establishment of proper and adequate gynecological care habits for 1,500 women in remote areas. Through the activities of health check-ups and guidance, it is estimated that 250 women in Nam Trà My have been cured of gynecological diseases and have not experienced reinfection among the 400 women involved.

Part 6

Model expansion potential

The model of the "Small Underwear Story" project is highly scalable due to the positive impact it has had and the support from the community:

Local authorities support the community outreach program initiated by Nơ Xanh and hope that the project can be implemented annually to have a long-lasting effect on reproductive health awareness and reduce the incidence of gynecological diseases among ethnic minority women.

The project's operational model is designed to be streamlined, with relevant and necessary content for education, and practical information that integrates easily into daily life. It focuses on preventive healthcare, which is not heavily influenced by local cultural practices. The operating costs are reasonable, and the project is flexible enough to collaborate with multiple organizations. Therefore, the model can be easily applied in various locations nationwide.

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