UNICEF Representative in Vietnam (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi
(VNA) – Rana Flowers has told the Vietnam News
Agency that when vaccines become abundant and are approved by the
World Health Organisation (WHO) for emergency use in children, the UNICEF will
do what it can to help Vietnam access suitable vaccines.
She made the statement
during an inclusive interview with the State-run news agency on the occasion of the action
month for children, which is ongoing under the theme of joining hands to ensure children’s rights and protect children in natural disasters and
pandemic.
Vietnamese
Government has come up with many child protection measures
Praising the
Vietnamese Government’s drastic actions and measures to curb the spread of
COVID-19 and to quickly implement its vaccination drive, starting with prioritised
groups, Flowers said the Government has made efforts to cooperate with social
and international organisations, including UNICEF, to ensure prompt assistance
for children against COVID-19-related impacts.
According to
her, amid social lockdown and distancing, measures have been implemented to
save local children from abuse, violence, accidents and psychological trauma.
The official
stated the UNICEF stands side by side with the Vietnamese Government in
protecting children and women in all circumstances, helping the nation strengthen
its psycho-social support for children and families via capacity building and
communications activities on mental health, psychological support and positive
parenting skills .
The UNICEF is
aiding the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to develop
guidelines and training programmes for social workers during the pandemic to
ensure that local child protection systems can function properly even during social
distancing periods.
Maximum assistance for Vietnam to access vaccine sources
Regarding Minister
of Health Nguyen Thanh Long’s announcement on Vietnam’s wish to buy COVID-19 vaccine to vaccinate
children aged 12 – 18, Flowers congratulated the ministry on its successful negotiation
for the procurement of 31 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which is affirmed by Pfizer to be safe for teenagers.
Illustrative photo (Source: UNICEF)
She took the occasion
to recommend that priority should be given to people at the front of the
fight against the pandemic like health workers and vulnerable groups such as
the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions.
It is necessary
to follow the Health Ministry’s 5K message – khau trang (face masks), khu khuan
(disinfection), khoang cach (distancing), khong tu tap (no gatherings), and
khai bao y te (health declarations) – and to ensure that all children are given regular vaccines under the nation’s extended vaccination programme, she
concluded./.
Source: VietnamPlus
