About us

MHWG

The Migrant Health Technical Group (MHWG) is an inter-ministerial technical group established by the Minister of Health of Vietnam in May 2021. The MHWG serves as a technical coordination mechanism that enables agencies across different ministries to manage migrant health issues and coordinate with relevant stakeholders to promote design and implementing migrant-friendly health policies and interventions.

The MHWG includes representatives from relevant ministries, government agencies and UN agencies. The MHWG is chaired by the Director-General, Department of Population, Ministry of Health and Head of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Viet Nam. The group's secretariat includes representatives from the Department of Population - Ministry of Health, IOM and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Objectives of MHWG

MHWG

The establishment of the MHWG is an important milestone for Vietnam in promoting concerns about migrant health. The health sector alone cannot ensure the health of migrants. Therefore, the health and non-health sectors need to work together to better understand the health issues of migrants and address the health-related challenges of migrants in a coordinated manner.

MHWG targets the following main tasks:

Promote participation, connection, and sharing of information updates on migration and migrant health

Develop and implement coordinated action plans

Technical assistance, participation in the development of policies, programs and plans related to migrant health

Strengthening social propaganda, dissemination and mobilization activities

Provide technical assistance, participate in the development of policies, programs and plans related to the health of migrants.

MHWG members

Doctor Le Thanh Dung

Chair of MHWG

Director of the Population Department

Ministry of Health

Doctor Le Thanh Dung

Doctor Le Thanh Dung is currently Director of the Population Department, Ministry of Health, Chair of MHWG.
He received a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Military Medical Academy and a Master's degree in Public Administration from the National Academy of Public Administration.
He has worked at the Military Medical Academy, Division 316, Military Region 2, Ministry of National Defense, Vietnam Medical Trade Union, Health Insurance Policy Implementation Board, Vietnam Social Insurance, Department of Organization Officer, Ministry of Health, Office of the Ministry of Health, Deputy Chief of Office of the General Department of Population and Family Planning, Ministry of Health, Chief of Office of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Health, Director of the National Centralized Drug Procurement Center, Ministry of Health Health, He is a person with a lot of experience in policy planning, health programs, population and development, and health insurance. Doctor Le Thanh Dung is currently Vice Chairman of the Council of the Center for Active and Creative Aging (ACAI), Member of the Coordinating Board of Partners for Population and Development (PPD).

KENDRA RINAS

Chief of Mission

International Organization for Migration – IOM

KRINAS@IOM.INT

KENDRA RINAS

Kendra Rinas was appointed by the IOM Director General as the Chief of Mission for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Hanoi, Viet Nam since November 2024. Kendra was previously the Chief of Mission for IOM in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 2018 – 2024, Head of IOM Sub-Office and Regional Resettlement Manager based in Damak, Nepal (2012 – 2018), and held positions in refugee resettlement based in Nairobi (2011 – 2012), Chad (2010- 2011), and Accra, Ghana (2006 – 2010).

Kendra’s experience includes over 19 years of migration management, overseeing programs including refugee resettlement, migration health, responding to forced migration, combatting forced labour, migrant smuggling, human trafficking, and partnering with governments, NGOs, migrants and the private sector on promoting well managed migration.

Kendra holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, USA and a bachelor’s degree in political science and religion, with a minor in peace studies from Gustavus Adolphus, in Minnesota, USA. Kendra is a national of the United States of America.

Department of Population (MOH)

Secretariat

IOM

Secretariat

World Health Organization

Secretariat