Mobilizing resources to protect and care for children.

Following the merger, Ninh Binh province has a population of over 4.4 million people, of which children under 16 years old account for 22.1%. To ensure children's rights, improve nutrition, and build a safe living environment for their comprehensive development, the health sector has implemented many activities to protect and care for children. On the occasion of the Month of Action for Children (June 1st), reporters from Ninh Binh Newspaper and Radio and Television had an interview with Ms. Ta Thi Hoa, Head of the Provincial Population and Children Department.

Officials from the Provincial Youth Center are disseminating information and providing guidance on drowning prevention skills to students at Khanh Thanh Primary School (Khanh Trung commune). Photo: Minh Quang

PV: Comrade, since the merger, how has the work of protecting and caring for children in the province been carried out?

Comrade Ta Thi Hoa: The Population and Children Sub-Department is a state management agency under the Department of Health, tasked with the work of caring for, educating, and protecting children in the province. After the provincial merger, the Sub-Department advised the Department of Health to submit to the Provincial People's Committee and the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee for issuance of Plan No. 07-KH/TU, dated October 20, 2025. The Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 75/KH-UBND, dated September 18, 2025, and Plan No. 141/KH-UBND, dated November 26, 2025, to implement the policies, objectives, and tasks on child care, education, and protection according to Directive No. 28-CT/TW, dated December 25, 2023, of the Politburo and Directive No. 23/CT-TTg, dated May 26, 2020, of the Prime Minister. These guiding documents, from the provincial level down to the grassroots, aim to maintain and improve the quality of children's rights implementation in the new context.

As a result, childcare, education , and child protection work in the province has achieved many positive, synchronized, and comprehensive results, meeting the requirements of the two-tiered local government management model and ensuring social security.

In 2025, the health sector organized 21 training conferences for nearly 3,700 population and child welfare collaborators; 10 skills classes for over 400 children; 10 awareness conferences for nearly 4,000 students; compiled, printed, and distributed over 60,000 leaflets; and installed 15 drowning warning signs.

Advising competent authorities on visiting and giving gifts to children with special and difficult circumstances in the province on the occasion of Lunar New Year, Children's Day (June 1st) and Mid-Autumn Festival; mobilizing resources from the Vietnam Children's Protection Fund, businesses, organizations and individuals to effectively carry out the work of caring for and supporting vulnerable children.

In the first months of 2026, the health sector continued to advise and organize the implementation of the 2026 Action Month for Children Plan with the theme "Happy, Safe, and Steadfast Children in the Digital Age"; training for population and child welfare collaborators, and training on the use of the Child Information Management System for commune-level officials. At the same time, it coordinated and connected resources to support children in special circumstances, including support for orphaned and disabled children from the Vietnam Children's Protection Fund and partner businesses.

PV: How is the social mobilization effort to raise resources for children, especially those in difficult circumstances, being addressed to give them opportunities to thrive in life and education?

Comrade Ta Thi Hoa, Head of the Provincial Population and Children's Sub-Department.

Comrade Ta Thi Hoa: The province pays close attention to and regularly implements social mobilization efforts, identifying them as an important resource to supplement the state budget in order to better care for children, especially children with special circumstances, children from poor and near-poor households, orphans, disabled children, and children with serious or life-threatening illnesses.

In 2025, the health sector coordinated and connected resources to care for children, such as: On Children's Day (June 1st), through the "Living to Heal" project, they received and distributed 200 gifts and nearly 200 scholarships; and provided nutritional support to one child in difficult circumstances.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, over 700 gift packages were collected, an outdoor playground worth 80 million VND was installed in Phu Long commune, and many bicycles were donated to disadvantaged children. Simultaneously, 200 scholarships (1 million VND/scholarship) and 100 support grants (2 million VND/scholarship) were awarded to disadvantaged children suffering from cancer or other serious health conditions undergoing treatment at hospitals; 300 English-reading pens, 60 bicycles, and 60 gift packages of candy and snacks were received and distributed to 60 disadvantaged children in 3 communes from the Vietnam Children's Protection Fund; and in coordination with E Hospital and other hospitals in the province, 1,750 children were screened for congenital heart disease, with 51 children recommended for surgery. In collaboration with the Vietnam Children's Protection Fund and hospitals, they screened nearly 60 children and performed surgery on 31 children with craniofacial deformities.

In the first months of 2026, activities to mobilize resources for children's work continued: In coordination with the Vietnam Children's Protection Fund, we received and donated one outdoor playground, 30 bicycles, and 100 gift packages to disadvantaged children, including 11 disadvantaged autistic children, during the Lunar New Year; 150 gift packages for children in Yen Tu commune and 100 gift packages for disadvantaged children in Binh My commune; and provided support to 13 orphaned and disabled children in two phases, with a support level of 500,000 VND/child/phase from the Vietnam Children's Protection Fund and partner businesses.

It can be said that each gift, scholarship, bicycle, or surgical procedure supported not only has material significance but also demonstrates the care and sharing of the community, giving children more confidence and motivation to overcome difficulties, continue their studies, integrate, and thrive in life.

PV: Comrade, what are the key activities focusing on this year's Month of Action for Children?

Comrade Ta Thi Hoa: In implementing Plan No. 133/KH-UBND, dated April 22, 2026, of the Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee on the implementation of the Action Month for Children in 2026, the Health sector is focusing on implementing practical activities directly aimed at children, especially children with special circumstances and children in difficult circumstances, with the theme "Happy, safe, and confident children in the digital age".

Key activities include promoting communication and raising awareness among families, communities, and children about children's rights. This includes organizing awareness campaigns and providing guidance on preventing and combating abuse, violence, accidents, injuries, and drowning; skills for safe online use; and child health care during the summer. Furthermore, coordination with commune and ward People's Committees is necessary to review and install warning signs in areas prone to accidents, injuries, and drowning among children. Direct community-based communication is also crucial to guide parents, caregivers, and children on skills for monitoring, preventing, and ensuring children's safety.

In addition, the Department of Health will coordinate with the Vietnam Children's Protection Fund, localities, units, and sponsors to review and organize visits and gift-giving to children with special circumstances and difficult situations, prioritizing orphaned children, disabled children, children with serious illnesses, children from poor and near-poor households, children receiving treatment at medical facilities, or children being cared for at social assistance facilities.

Coordinate the organization of free health check-ups and consultations for children based on actual conditions, prioritizing disadvantaged areas, children with special circumstances, children with disabilities, children with serious or life-threatening illnesses, children at risk of malnutrition, or those in need of counseling on nutrition, mental health, and rehabilitation. Effectively coordinate with the People's Committees of communes and wards, health facilities, social assistance facilities, and competent authorities to promptly receive, process, support, and intervene in cases of child abuse, violence, accidents, injuries, or those at risk of harm.

The guiding principle for activities during the Month of Action for Children is to ensure they are practical, safe, economical, effective, and targeted; prioritizing activities that directly benefit children and contribute to building a safe, healthy, and friendly living environment for their holistic development.

PV: Thank you very much, Comrade!

Phan Hieu (Editor)

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/huy-dong-cac-nguon-luc-de-bao-ve-cham-soc-tre-em-260528174048453.html