The only problem with these field trips is that they keep us so busy there isn't time to write about them until they are over. Even finding a few minutes to twitter (@KevinMcCort) during the trip was a challenge, though I must admit part of the trouble with twittering is that it I still find it a bit rude to break away from a conversation or presentation to post a note about the very people I'm talking with! But there is lots to share.
Our day started with a seminar on social and economic conditions in Vietnam. Our staff reported that there has been significant, broad-based progress over the past few years. Some of the statistics bear repeating, such as the fact that per capita income is at $790, and has been growing at 6%. Or that average life expectancy is 71 years, with infant mortality at 15 per thousand live births. Literacy rates are quite good with 95% and 94% of boys and girls (respectively) able to read. Much progress has been made in the physical environment as well, with 92% of the population having access to improved water. We noted that 88% of urban dwellers have improved sanitation facilities, but only 65% of rural people have the same benefit. As the countryside is where the majority -73%- of Vietnam's 84 million people live, there is still work to be done on this front.
These trends are set to continue, with Vietnam set to become a middle income country by next year. After hearing all of this, the biggest question we had was what would CARE Vietnam do in the future? Is there a role for CARE in a country where good progress is being made?
We left the conference room to find out, and what we found will be described in my next posting.
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