This initiative was discussed during a recent meeting in Hanoi organised by the Ministry of Health and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to mark World Population Day (July 11).

The event aimed to review global progress in implementing commitments related to sexual and reproductive health and rights and to discuss priorities for addressing outstanding issues amid rapidly changing demographics worldwide, including in Vietnam.

Dao Hong Lan, Minister of Health and Standing Deputy Head of the National Committee for Population and Development, emphasised the importance of achieving the goals of Resolution No. 21-NQ/TW of the Party, the Vietnam Population Strategy to 2030, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals of Vietnam and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development.

To mark this year’s World Population Day, the Ministry of Health chose the theme "Investing in Population Work is Investing in Sustainable Development," calling on all levels, sectors, international organisations, and development partners to continue focusing on and investing in Vietnam's population work, contributing to the country's rapid and sustainable development.

Pauline Fatima Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, stressed the need for urgent and decisive action to ensure that all women have access to essential care services during pregnancy and childbirth. Investing in reproductive and sexual health is an investment in ending poverty and inequality, she said.

In the Asia-Pacific region, the maternal mortality ratio has decreased by 61% since 2000, marking the most significant reduction in recent years. More children are being born with the assistance of skilled health personnel, and the number of adolescents giving birth has nearly halved since 2000. Additionally, 32 countries and territories in the region have conducted at least one survey on gender-based violence.

Over the past 30 years, Vietnam has made efforts to address inequality and narrow the socioeconomic gap between regions and population groups. The Human Development Index has significantly improved, reaching an average level compared to other countries worldwide. Notable improvements include the reduction in malnutrition and maternal and child mortality rates.

The maternal mortality rate has decreased sixfold over the past 30 years, from 233 per 100,000 live births in 1990 to approximately 40 per 100,000 live births in recent years. Since 1993, the infant mortality rate has dropped from 43.3 to 12.1 per 1,000 live births in 2020. Life expectancy has increased rapidly, from 65.5 years in 1993 to 74.5 years in 2023, exceeding that of many countries with similar average income levels.

Bac Giang health sector adds more than 1,100 new techniques

BAC GIANG - In order to improve the quality of medical examination and treatment, since early this year, the Department of Health in Bac Giang province has newly and additionally approved for 1,161 new and specialized techniques, 469 of which are deployed at public medical facilities, the remaining at private ones. 

Bac Giang keeps improving grassroots health care

The northern province of Bac Giang will continue to improve grassroots-level health care in the coming time, according to Director of the province’s Health Department Nguyen Thi Thu Huong.

Vietnam's Level-2 Field Hospital in South Sudan provides free health check for women, children on International Women's Day

Vietnam's Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 5 has coordinated with units the Bentiu sub-division and a number of departments at the the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to make a volunteer trip to provide health care for women and children in Bentiu, South Sudan.

Public health care, improvement among top priorities of Vietnam: President

The Party and State always place people at the centre of development, and caring for and improving people’s health is one of the important tasks and top priorities of Vietnam’s development policy, President Vo Van Thuong has affirmed.

State leader underlines crucial role of grassroots health care

President Vo Van Thuong emphasised the importance of grassroots health care while visiting some medical facilities in the northern province of Ha Nam on February 25, ahead of the Vietnamese Doctors’ Day (February 27).

Vietnam confident of malaria elimination by 2030: Deputy Health Minister

Vietnam is confident in realising the goal of eliminating malaria by 2030, said Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong.

Source: VNA