Health ministry launches national action month on population

A parade is held as part of the launching of the National Action Month on Population (Photo: laodongthudo)

Hanoi,
December 9 (VNA) – The Ministry of Health’s General Office for Population
Family Planning held a meeting to launch the National Action Month on
Population on December 9.

The
month promotes prenatal health screening for healthy babies, early newborn
health screening for prompt treatment, and investment in population work as a
sustainable move.

Deputy
Minister of Health Nguyen Viet Tien said on average, about 1.5 – 2 percent of
Vietnamese newborns in a year, equaling 22,000 – 30,000 babies, have birth
defects.   

The
General Office for Population Family Planning has implemented a prenatal and newborn
health screening programme that has spread nationwide. To date, approximately
25 percent of pregnant women and 35 percent of babies have received early
diagnoses and treatment.

Addressing
the meeting, Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh praised the health body’s
efforts and achievements in population planning and urged state agencies,
sectors and citizens to support and participate in the programme.

On
October 25, the 12th Party Central Committee issued Resolution 21/NQ-TW, which
set out a 2030 goal of having 70 percent of pregnant women and 90 percent of
newborns respectively screened for at least four and five popular diseases.-VNA