Hanoi (VNA) – After four years of operation and over 250,000 calls recieved, the toll-free hotline 18001567 has proved a valuable assistance to children in difficult circumstances in Vietnam .
The child helpline, which operates from 7am to 9pm everyday, has helped thousands of children nationwide who were lost, uncared for, psychological hurt, maltreated, trafficked and sexually abused to access counseling and emergency services.
The hotline also provides information related to child violence and abuse and assistance to protect children’s rights.
The hotline hopes to expand its services by 2010 to provide around-the-clock assistance and support centres in at least 38 provinces and cities nationwide. Ho Chi Minh City and Danang city are the first two cities earmarked for the centres, which will be used for connection and intervention in child welfare matters.
Vice Head of the Child Care and Protection Department of the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) Dang Nam said children’s calls were usually related to issues of health, psychophysiology, friend and family relations, reproductive health, education, violence and abuse.
He was speaking at a ceremony held by the MoLISA in Hanoi on May 16 to mark the International Child Helpline Day (May 17), which is observed in many member countries of the organization, Child Helpline International (CHI).
Director of Plan Vietnam and co-organiser of the day Mark Taylor Pierce said he appreciated the work of the helpline in Vietnam and hoped international organisations would give more assistance to children in difficulties in the country.
It is the first year the International Child Helpline Day has been approved by the United Nations, said Pierce. The day acts as a call for care and attention for children in difficulties in each country and around the world.
Founded in 2003, CHI has developed a global network of hotlines in over 160 countries around the world. Vietnam became its 52nd member in 2004.-Enditem
|
|