VietNamNet Bridge, April 8: The nation has been urged to give more priority to women, children, elderly and disabled people, including those with intellectual disability, in social welfare policies to ensure social equality.

The call was made by a representative from the World Health Organisation (WHO) at a recent workshop on health issues held jointly in southern Vung Tau City by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, UNICEF and WHO.

Mental disability accounts for up to 15 percent of illness around the world, with about 25 million people with from schizophrenia and 54 million people suffering from depression world-wide.

In Viet Nam, 15 percent of the population were  from mental disability, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. A recent survey showed that between 20 to 30 percent of respondents said their children had problems related to mental health.

However, most people with mental disability did not receive proper care or treatment. Out of the 400 social welfare centres in Viet Nam, only 17 were for mentally disabled people.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Trong Dam said that although disadvantaged people nationwide were receiving more government attention and their living conditions had improved during the past several years, they were among the hardest to be hit by the economic slowdown and disruptions such as extreme weather.

"In addition, insufficient human resources in the social welfare sector, in terms of quality and quantity, were one of the biggest challenges to the effective implementation of policies on social welfare and poverty reduction in the coming time," said Dam.

"This year, the ministry is due to draft a proposed law relating to disabled people while also carrying out a community-based nursing project for mentally disabled people," said Dam.

Representatives from WHO and UNICEF shared experiences in treating and taking care of mentally disabled people at the workshop, while also calling on more investment in improving people's mental health.

At present, about 40,000 disadvantaged people, including orphans, elderly, disabled and mentally disabled people, were receiving and treatment at 400 social welfare centres across the country.

As many as 10,000 staff were working in the sector, and nearly 24 percent had a tertiary education while nearly 30 percent were untrained.

This year, the ministry would also propose projects on support for households adopting orphans, assistance for disabled people during the 2010-15 period and on carrying out a census on mental disabled across the country.

Source: Viet Nam News