The Tánh Linh area
Tánh Linh is a district of Bình Thuận province, counting 14 communes. The total area is 21.193 ha. The inhabitants are mostly economic immigrants coming from poorer regions of Vietnam. Situated at 150km North of Hochiminh City, they are at the border of the province of Dong Nai. Two decades ago, the area was a rainforest. Today, the population amounts to approximately 100.000.
The main resources of this region are : paddy, fruit trees, livestock. The average annual income of the population is estimated at about 200 US$, well below the national average (440 US$ in 2002). The reasons for poverty are many: lack of capital, shortage of land for some, archaic techniques, remoteness from the main markets etc. As usual, the people turn to the moneylenders who charge very high interest rate (10% monthly or more). When the need for investment is urgent for purchasing seeds, fertilizer, fish net, harvest tools etc. it is very difficult to access enough capital even from moneylenders, which is the worst situation.
The impact of this poverty on health care and education is disastrous. Few families have latrines. Water is polluted and the hygiene standard is notoriously insufficient. A recent survey carried out by Viêt Nam Plus and the Health Department of the district showed that 50% of people are infested by worms (the reliability of these data may be questioned though). The people are easily exposed to malaria or dengue fever. A quarter of the children do not complete secondary school, although the population is unusually keen for their education, as often for the people from the North.
The People's Committee and the Women's Union are competent and motivated which is a key factor of success to run program in Vietnam. All programs are implemented in Tánh Linh. It has been taken over from Vietnam Plus by Thiện Chí in 2008.
