Ha Long, 25 August 2025 – The STEP 2.0 training program officially launched its in-person workshop phase (Phase II – In-person Workshop), jointly organized by UNICEF, People that Deliver (PtD), GaneshAID, and the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE). Vietnam is the fourth country GaneshAID hosted STEP 2.0, highlighting the country’s growing importance in regional public health supply chain leadership. The program’s presence in Vietnam also demonstrates a strong commitment to investing in a new generation of leaders—individuals capable of creating impact and driving sustainable change.
At the Opening Ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Duong Thi Hong – Vice Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology – remarked:
“STEP 2.0 is launched as a practical and exemplary training program in the field of public health. The program brings together managers from the National Expanded Program on Immunization, regional and provincial levels, as well as leaders from the National Institutes of Hygiene and Epidemiology and the Pasteur Institutes, creating a comprehensive picture of the national preventive health and immunization system.
STEP 2.0 not only delivers technical knowledge but also provides a journey of practice and exchange to strengthen management capacity. In the context where immunization requires accuracy and sustainable effectiveness, STEP 2.0 serves as an essential foundation for health managers to move forward, contributing to the consolidation and development of the public health system.”
The workshop brings together 27 public health officials and leaders from multiple levels, including central-level officers, disease control departments, hygiene and epidemiology institutes, Pasteur Institutes, and provincial and municipal Centers for Disease Control. This diverse participation reflects a comprehensive view of Vietnam’s preventive health and immunization system.
Participants are guided by a team of leading experts and instructors, including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Thai, Deputy Head of the Department of Infectious Disease Control at NIHE and Head of the Northern Expanded Program on Immunization Office, and Mrs. Dorothy Leab, Program Director, Senior Advisor, and Founder & CEO of GaneshAID. This combination of local expertise and international experience ensures the program is tailored to local context while providing strategic and global perspectives.
Alongside the distinguished faculty, STEP 2.0 is also accompanied by a team of dedicated coaches – true companions who walk side by side with participants throughout their journey. More than just mentors, they are sources of encouragement, sparking leadership spirit and empowering each participant to confidently apply knowledge in practice. Their presence builds a vital bridge between classroom learning and real-world experience, bringing energy and a distinctive mark to the program.
A central feature of STEP 2.0 is the “Transformation Challenge”. This is more than learning new skills; it is a journey of shifting from tactical to strategic thinking, enabling participants to generate significant and sustainable impact. Vietnam’s position as the fourth country to implement STEP 2.0 underscores its growing role in the global health network.
With this vision, STEP 2.0 is not designed to train individuals with formal authority, but to develop leaders capable of influence. Through individual and collective influence, participants are equipped to drive positive change, ensuring that essential health products reach all people in a timely, equitable, and effective manner.
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