Introduction:

The propaganada hause of health protection was established by Ministry of health in 1980. Its name was changed to te propagand center for health protection and then was changed to the health communication and education center.

The main function and tasks:

According to the dicision number of 1914/1999/QD-BYT dated 28th June 1999 signed by minister of health.

Scientific research:

- Studying the public health behaviours  
- Studying the health communication and education materials  
- Applying the domestic and international methods of the health communication and education.

Organizing and implementing the health communication and education activities:

- Planning, organizing and implementing the plans of the health communication and education.

- Organizing the propagandization of the orientation of Viet Nam communist party, the polycies and laws of state and health sector regarding the people health protection and care.

- Editing and publishing the materials of the health communication and education.

Guiding the network for the health communication and education

- Strengthening the network of the health communication and education through the counry.  
- Guiding the professional activities for its own network  
- Providing the materials of the health communication and education

Training:

- Training the profession for cadres who are responsible for the health communication and education in all levels.  
- Training the profession of the health communication and education for the other organizations and individuals.

International cooperations:

- Cooperating with other countries and international organizations in the field of the health communication and education.  
- Exchanging the staffs and experiences in the field of the health communication and education.

The home management:

- Managing and using effectively all resources of the own center's programs and projects according to the policies and regulations of state.  
- Publishing the materials of the health communication and education to supply to organizations and individuals.

Organizational structure of the health communication and education network:

The health communication and education center, which is under ministry of health (MOH), is national level, is resposible for profession of the health communication and education through the country. Center has five departments and the board of director. There are 36 cadres in which 26 graduated and post graduated.

The network of the health communication and education (provincial-district-communal levels).

- Provincial levels: The health communication and education center of provinces is under the health office. The others health facilities in provincial level have one health cadre to participate the health communication and education work.  
- District level: having the group of the health communication and education.  
- Communal and hamlet level: the communal and hamlet health staffs participate the health emmunication and education work.

Some major achievements:

The scientific research:

- Studying the health behaviour of mothers who have children under 5 years in 3 provinces: Gia Lai, Nghe An and Yen Bai.  
- Studying the health behaviour of Thai minority mothers who have children under 5 years in Thuan Chau district-Son La province and Hoang Hoa district-Thanh Hoa city (1992-1993).  
- Investigating the health behaviour of ten ethnic minority groups in 6 provinces for malaria control - health education (care international).  
- Evaluating the activities of the anti-respiratory (ARI) infection during ten years (1994).  
- Surveying the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of communicating on the antibiotic using in 3 focal-districts: Soc Son (Ha Noi), Yen Phong (Bac Ninh) and Dan Phuong (Ha Tay).  
- Evaluating the publication and use of the communication materials of the primary health care programs during ten years (1985-1995)
- Investigating the issue and distribution of the life and health newspaper to districts and communes in remote and deep areas
- Investigating and setting up the functions, tasks and organizational structure of the provincial and municipal center for the health communication and education
- Surveying the KAP of trachoma ® prevention and control for mothers who have children under 15 years in 13 focal districts (UNICEF), 2000

Profession training:

4000 professional cadres of the health communication and education network from central level to provincial, district, communal and hamlet levels have trained the skills of the health communication and education, skill of teaching and other professional skills related the camera, photograph, editing... etc...

Developing the material of the health communication and education:

Publication

Practise manual for the health communication and education; ten contents for elder health care; the health for every family; what to do for healthy living; anti-smoking in schools (manual); the food hygience and safety (book); everybody for health (book), picture book for diarrhea and picture book for immunization.

- The basic teaching books for the health communication and education: the skills of the health communication and education; the teaching skills of the health communication and education.  
- Openning picture: the health for every family (Vietnamese, H'mong, Ede and Kh'mer); the necessaries for the life; anti diarrhea.  
- Posters, leaflets with subjects: diarrhea, acute respiratory infection, parasites, antibiotic using, the food hygience and safety, thyroid, drug addiction and immunization etc...  
- The health education newsletter (every two months)

Showing and listening materials:

- Cattsette type for identifying and early treating the common diseases in community for mothers who have children under 5 years; the songs of health sector.  
- Producing the scientific and educational films and reports: The pulmonary infections in children; happiness for childhood; drug danger; HIV/AIDS; The paedietric medical care integration; the anti-malnutrion for children; Medical doctor go to commune; return to the life ... etc...  
- Producing the massages for anti-smoking; anti-tuberculosis, immunization; Haemorrhagic fever; drinking water and environmental hygience, pregnant care, traffic safety ... etc...

The health communication and education cooperation:

- Collaborating closely and frequently with professinal organizations and mass media to disseminate on time the activities of the health sector and propagandize according to the subjects. Collaborating with Viet Nam television to develop the health issues on the television such as: disseminating the health knowledge, the health for everybody, today problem ... etc...  
- Cooperating with the international organizations such as WHO, UNICEF, Swiden SIDA, Australia VIC Health, EC, world consideration, world vision, Vietnam-Australia malaria, care international...

Director of the Health communication and education center.