Comprehensive child healthcare

Health communication at Nguyen Trai Secondary School (Uong Bi Ward)

Recognizing that prenatal care is the beginning of a healthy life, the provincial health sector maintains a strict maternity management system from the grassroots level. Healthcare facilities create maternity records, provide nutritional counseling, remind patients of appointments, and ensure all important check-ups are completed. Simultaneously, the province promotes the application of modern prenatal diagnostic techniques such as amniocentesis, chorionic villus biopsy, and screening for birth defects. This contributes to reducing pregnancy risks and improving the quality of the population.

Comprehensive prenatal care not only supports mothers in having a healthy pregnancy but also lays the groundwork for a safe birth, reducing the risk of congenital defects and neonatal complications.

After birth, early childhood health care programs are implemented in a scientific and sustainable manner. Quang Ninh is one of the first localities to participate in the EM-THRIVE project, integrating active parenting counseling into expanded immunization sessions. The model quickly spread, helping parents access knowledge on raising children from 0-3 years old conveniently and effectively right at the health station.

Alongside parental education, the province focuses on community-based nutrition models. In-depth training courses help improve the capacity of grassroots health workers in guiding nutritional care. Annual vitamin A supplementation campaigns, maintaining high rates, have contributed to reducing malnutrition, preventing micronutrient deficiencies, and strengthening children's immunity. In 2024, over 94,000 children received vitamin A; the rates of underweight and stunting in children under 5 years old remained below 6%.

In addition, the province pays special attention to vulnerable children. Dozens of children from disadvantaged backgrounds have received financial assistance for medical examinations and treatment; nearly 99% of children under 6 years old receive free medical care at public facilities. This policy demonstrates the profound humanity and social responsibility of the locality.

As children enter school age, the focus of healthcare shifts to risk prevention and enhancing self-protection skills. In recent years, the use of e-cigarettes, school stress, and a lack of knowledge about reproductive health among students have become major concerns for families and schools.

The province is stepping up communication efforts to prevent the harmful effects of tobacco, alcohol, and stimulants in schools. A competition titled "Understanding the Knowledge of Tobacco Harm Prevention" was organized with the participation of students from junior high schools, creating a vibrant platform and spreading the message of "smoke-free schools."

The "Understanding the Knowledge of Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control" competition in 2025.

In the first nine months of 2025, the provincial Health and Education sectors jointly organized more than 460 sessions on reproductive health and life skills, attracting over 21,000 students and young people. Through these sessions, children were equipped with knowledge about puberty, personal hygiene, preventing unwanted pregnancies, preventing sexually transmitted diseases, and building a healthy lifestyle.

From prenatal care to enhanced nutrition for young children and protection of students' health, Quang Ninh is implementing a continuous and integrated child health care system that connects health and education. This is a modern approach that views children's health as a long-term journey requiring the collaboration of families, communities, and the entire political system.

Hoai Minh

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/cham-care-health-children-comprehensively-3387926.html