On Monday morning, the Da Nang People’s Committee (PC) Chairman, Mr Van Huu Chien, presented Certificates of Merit from the municipal PC to the Ambassador of Ireland to Viet Nam, Mr Damien Cole, and to Irish Aid in recognition of their significant contributions to the strengthening of international friendship and humanitarian aid work in the city.

The Irish diplomat said that he was greatly honoured to receive this notable award.  He vowed that he would do his utmost to enhance the bilateral friendship and cooperative relationships between his country and Da Nang, and with Viet Nam as a whole.

Chairman Chien presenting the Certificate of Merit to Irish Ambassador Damien Cole

During his tenure in Viet Nam, Ambassador Cole has been actively involved in strengthening Ireland-Viet Nam cooperation in diplomacy, culture, education, and health, as well as humanitarian development aid and poverty reduction.  In particular, in 2008 Irish Aid and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in Viet Nam implemented the “Support Network for People with Disabilities” project.  The project cost a total of over 480,000 USD, of which 163,824 USD was spent on rehabilitation work and paying tuition fees for poor disabled local children.

A 142,026 Euro project for enhancing the capacity of the health care network for the prevention and early detection of children with disabilities was implemented in the city’s Cam Le District from 20 August 2012 to 31 January 2014.  It was funded by Irish Aid and the Sustainable Health Development Centre (VietHealth).