UNFPA, Organon Vietnam launch initiative to expand reproductive healthcare for female workers

Representatives of UNFPA Vietnam and Organon Vietnam Co., Ltd. pose for a commemorative photo at the signing ceremony. (Source: UNFPA)

The initiative is funded by a 99,000 USD grant provided by Organon under the Her Health Grants 2026 program. UNFPA Vietnam will implement the project in partnership with the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union through the Youth Worker Support Centre, the General Department of Population under the Ministry of Health, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, trade unions, businesses, and other relevant stakeholders.

According to data released by the Ministry of Planning and Investment in 2023, Vietnam has 304 operational industrial zones employing approximately 4.16 million workers. Women account for nearly 60% of the workforce, while 66.8% are between 18 and 29 years old. A large proportion are migrant workers who often face barriers to reproductive healthcare due to shift-based work schedules, financial limitations, and concerns over privacy.

To better understand these challenges, the project will conduct a survey involving around 1,000 female workers, alongside focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with employees, employers, trade unions, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders. The findings will help identify obstacles to accessing reproductive health services and support the development of evidence-based policy recommendations.

Overview of the signing ceremony. (Source: UNFPA)

In addition to research activities, the project will pilot an after-hours service model in selected industrial zones through mobile clinics and consultation points operating in two daily shifts. Female workers will also be able to access information quickly through QR codes while maintaining confidentiality.

Reproductive health counseling will be available through both face-to-face and online channels. The initiative will connect workers with qualified healthcare facilities that provide modern contraceptive options, including both short-term methods and long-acting reversible contraceptives that can be discontinued when desired.

Another key component of the project is the establishment of a Workplace Reproductive Health Ambassador Network. Selected female workers will receive training to share reliable reproductive health information, support their colleagues, and help connect them with appropriate services. The model is expected to reduce misinformation, address stigma, and expand access to trusted healthcare resources.

Ms. Vo Thi Thuy Ha, General Director of Organon Vietnam Co., Ltd., speaks at the event. (Source: UNFPA)

Vo Thi Thuy Ha, General Director of Organon Vietnam Co., Ltd., said the company believes every woman should have access to accurate information, quality healthcare services, and the opportunity to make informed decisions about her own health.

She expressed hope that the initiative would bring reproductive health services closer to female workers where they live and work, while creating a foundation for expanding the model in the future.

Meanwhile, UNFPA Representative in Vietnam Matt Jackson noted that shift work, financial constraints, and privacy concerns remain significant barriers preventing many female workers from accessing reproductive healthcare.

He emphasised that the initiative seeks to address these challenges by combining field research with after-hours consultation services, strengthening links to the healthcare system, and equipping women with the knowledge needed to make informed reproductive health choices.

According to UNFPA, the initiative aligns with Decision No. 1347/QD-BYT issued by Vietnam’s Ministry of Health on the National Action Plan to Improve the Quality of Family Planning Services through 2030, which encourages the expansion of mobile healthcare services and online consultations in industrial parks and export processing zones.

The project's research findings and pilot implementation will be used to formulate recommendations for policymakers, businesses, and healthcare authorities. These outcomes are also expected to provide a foundation for scaling up the model to industrial zones across Vietnam in the future.

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