The mountain roads in Nam Khoa are narrow, bumpy and full of potholes. Every ride is a struggle.
But these obstacles do not deter Trieu Ta Pao, who is the communication officer on COVID-19 vaccination for Nam Khoa commune in Hoang Su Phi District, Ha Giang province, which borders China.
Trieu Ta Pao on his communications journey as he arrived in a household in Nam Khoa commune, Xin Man district, Ha Giang province - Photo credit: WHO Viet Nam/Minh Pham
His main occupation is farming, like most people in this remote area, known for its rice terraces. But he is motivated and passionate about his pandemic responsibilities. So he’s on his motorbike almost every day, bringing information about the
country’s vaccination programme and COVID-19 prevention measures.
In many parts of Viet Nam, people have access to the internet and smartphones to receive information and updates from the Ministry of Health through Facebook, Zalo, the country’s most popular messaging app, and other online sources. But digital
access is more difficult in some remote areas, like Nam Khoa, and not all information is available in the languages spoken by the residents.
So, Mr Pao drives around on his motorbike, a giant loudspeaker strapped to the back broadcasting recorded messages about vaccination and COVID-19 measures in Vietnamese and the local Dao language. He also drives house to house, and talks to people about COVID-19.
Trieu Ta Pao driving his motorbike carrying the loud speaker giving COVID-19 vaccination information to the local people - Photo credit: WHO Viet Nam/Minh Pham
With rising numbers of COVID-19 cases and the threat of more transmissible variants, Viet Nam is sparing no effort to ensure people at risk or vulnerable to COVID-19 have the information they need to stay safe. By mid-February 2022, the country had reported more than 2.4 million cases and almost 40,000 deaths, with an increase in new cases and deaths in many provinces and cities, including Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi and in northern, southern and central localities.
Photo credit: WHO Viet Nam/Minh Pham
The Government of Viet Nam, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), has continued to promote the 5K protective behaviours and vaccination to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including wearing masks, physical distancing, cleaning hands, avoiding
closed and crowded places and, for travellers to submit a medical declaration, along with other measures such as covering coughs and sneezes, increasing ventilation.
This outreach method has been effective in many areas of Viet Nam.
Two fully protected people living near the border with China share their stories.
Giang Thi La, 44, lives near the Viet Nam-China border. She is a member of the ethnic H’mong community and usually spends her days tending her livestock and working on her farm.
Photo credit: WHO Viet Nam/Minh Pham
While waiting for her second dose of COVID-19 vaccine at Xin Man commune health station in Ha Giang, Mrs La worked on embroidery to sell at a monthly market along with her farm produce.
“I don’t meet a lot of people, but sometimes when I go to sell my farming products, I have to talk to dealers. My son also goes to school and meets his peers a lot, so now with the vaccine, I feel more comfortable.”
Photo credit: WHO Viet Nam/Loan Tran
Photo credit: WHO Viet Nam/Loan Tran
Photo credit: WHO Viet Nam/Loan Tran
Mrs La said she feels more confident selling her products across the border now that she is vaccinated. She said she will continue to practice the 5K protections.
In another part of Ha Giang province lives Sung Seo Pao. As a teenager, an accident left him with a disability. Determined to live an independent and productive life, he became a mechanic and now has his own machinery repair business in Nan Ma commune
in Xin Man district.
Mr Pao has had two doses of COVID-19 vaccine and said he feels safer.
“I met a lot of customers on a daily basis because of my work. Now I’m not worried about meeting them because I have been fully vaccinated. Even though I’m vaccinated, I continue to practice the 5K protective measures.”
Photo credit: WHO Viet Nam/Minh Pham
WHO Representative in Viet Nam Dr Kidong Park said, “Since the start of the pandemic, Viet Nam has run extraordinarily successful communication campaigns to help people understand COVID-19 and know how to protect themselves and others against it.”
It is impressive to see communications now reaching the last mile, over difficult terrain, and in the languages people actually speak. A big vote of thanks to Trieu Ta Pao and communications officers like him, working tirelessly to ensure people have the information they need to make informed choices.
Mr Pao’s motorbike mission is an example of people-centered communications that are core to WHO’s Communication for Health (C4H) approach. By taking a bottom-up approach, it ensures that community voices are heard. With tailored activities
for local contexts, all people, including hard to reach populations, can get trusted public health advice that is understandable and relevant.
C4H strategies are also collaborative – recognizing that the messenger is just as important as the message. Mr Pao, as a trusted member of the community, uses his voice to convince people to take action.
Lastly, C4H is all about using communications as a tool for health (driving outcomes and impact). Mr Pao’s communication outreach has inspired locals to take actions that protect their health.
Learn more about the Communication for Health approach in the Western Pacific Region.