The new scheme will take place in 60 communes of the northern province of Thai Nguyen over the next two years.

A special emphasis will be placed on the establishment of groups in the communes that would allow members to raise their incomes by pooling available resources and providing medical, insurance and credit programmes.

The initiative is to be run by the Vietnam Women’s Union, the Vietnam Association of the Elderly, and the Thai Nguyen Medical College’s Centre in Support of the Elderly.