25th March is Vietnamese Social Workers Day. On this day, OUCRU honour the valuable contributions of social workers who silently support all healthcare workers, patients, and carers at hospitals.
Healthcare workers usually have to face daily challenges and stress, making the support from social workers are essential, emotionally and professionally.
Engaging patients and carers are also integrated into social worker’s roles. They bridge the gap between the hospital and these communities, acknowledging and addressing their needs, informing them about their rights and available resources, and ultimately helping them feel cared for and less stressed.
Recognising the importance of social work in health settings, OUCRU’s Public and Community Engagement, along with our long-standing partner Hospital for Tropical Diseases (HTD), focuses on supporting and improving the social work department at HTD by providing technical support to the Social Work Division at HTD. Our goal is to advocate for a comprehensive support system, where all hospital staff, patients, and carers feel safe and supported throughout the entire process at and beyond hospitals.
OUCRU’s Public and Community Engagement team initiated several activities that are now regular within HTD’s Social Work Division.
- Training courses on the foundation of social work, medical social work, case management, social work with groups and individuals, networking, fundraising, and facilitation skill.
- Health Talk provides useful medical and health information, focusing on preventable common infections like tetanus, hepatitis, tuberculosis etc.