The international community has evaluated Vietnam as a bright spot in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (now is Sustainable Development Goals for maternal and child health). In order to narrow the gap among regions across the country, the National Assembly and Government have approved and implemented the socio-economic development program for ethnic-inhabited and mountainous areas in the 2021-2025 period, including many important targets on health and nutrition for mothers and children. Over the past time, many new techniques in obstetric and pediatric care have been transferred to hospitals in ethnic-inhabited areas, showing the sentiment of the whole society towards ethnic people, who are often confronted with many challenges in accessing quality medical services.
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Doctors of Hai Phong hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology transfer obstetric emergency techniques to several medical units in Yen Bai province. (Photo provided by the Maternal and Child Health Department) |
Thanks to their great efforts, the maternal and child health care has obtained many profound achievements, including the decrease in the maternal and child mortality rates as well as the rate of malnutrition in children. The system of medical examination and treatment in obstetrics and pediatrics has developed dramatically at all levels. Many advanced scientific and technical achievements in the world have been applied, contributing to improving the quality of medical examination and treatment.
According to Prof., Dr. Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health, the health sector gained positive results in 2023; however, health care for people, particularly ethnic people, mothers, and children, has still faced a number of difficulties and challenges. Regardless of the fact that health status of people in mountainous, remote and ethnic-inhabited areas has improved, the rate of maternal and child mortality, and the rate of malnutrition in children have been reduced, the gap between urban and rural areas, between lowlands and mountainous areas, and among ethnic minority groups has remained high. This requires freer health check-ups and treatment for ethnic people.
In 2024, the Health Ministry has mapped out many key tasks, with a focus on promoting strong innovation in the new context to reach universal health coverage; enhancing the quality of medical examinations and treatment; and boosting digital transformation.
The deputy health minister affirmed that the Health Ministry would continue to call on organizations and individuals to stand by the health sector, contributing to people heath care and treatment and improving the capability of medical staff, especially those in medical facilities in needy provinces. These deeds aim to realize the goal that all people in Northwestern region could access and use high-quality health services.
Translated by Quynh Oanh