Integrated model of expanded immunization and management and treatment of non-communicable diseases

(GLO)- On the afternoon of May 18, in Pleiku City, within the framework of the plan to implement the medical professional support project in 2023, the Central Highlands Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) organized a conference to deploy the model of integrating expanded immunization and management and treatment of non-communicable diseases in Gia Lai province.

Attending the conference, on the WHO side were Dr. Angela Pratt - WHO Representative in Vietnam, Dr. Vien Chinh Chien - Director of the Central Highlands Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, WHO vaccination experts on non-communicable diseases and communication, representatives of specialized departments of the Central Highlands Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. On the Gia Lai province side, there were Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich - Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee, Mr. Dinh Ha Nam - Deputy Director of the Department of Health, leaders of the Provincial Center for Disease Control, 5 District Health Centers and 32 commune health stations selected to implement the model.

Integrating expanded immunization and management and treatment of non-communicable diseases in Gia Lai photo 1

Conference scene. Photo: Nhu Nguyen

The model of integrating expanded immunization and management and treatment of non-communicable diseases in Gia Lai province is supported by WHO, managed by the Ministry of Health, implemented by the Central Highlands Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, and coordinated by the Gia Lai Department of Health and the Provincial Center for Disease Control. Implementation time is in 2023. In addition to Gia Lai, Dak Lak province was also selected to implement this model.

The general objective of the model is to increase the vaccination rate and detect, manage and treat hypertension (HTA) and diabetes (DM) to limit premature death and disability, contributing to the care, protection and improvement of community health. The specific objectives include: Increase the rate of regular vaccination and campaign vaccination; strengthen the screening and management and treatment of non-communicable diseases (HTA, DM); expand the management, treatment and statistical reporting of non-communicable diseases and evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness and acceptability of the integrated model and consider expanding the integration of vaccination with other primary health care services. The model will be implemented in 32 communes in 5 districts: Chu Puh, Chu Prong, Mang Yang, Ia Pa and Duc Co.

According to the Central Highlands Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, recently, due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, vaccination activities in Gia Lai have encountered a number of difficulties and shortcomings. Among them, there is a lack of staff, a lack of operating funds, and funding for vaccination cannot be paid because Circular 26 has expired and there are no new instructions. In addition, there is a lack of vaccines for regular vaccination; there is a lack of specialized refrigerators; new staff have not been trained in vaccination software; there has not been a synchronous implementation of the disease surveillance system in expanded immunization... In addition, the area is large, traffic is difficult during the rainy season, and the community and parents' understanding of vaccination is limited. In 2022, the rate of fully vaccinated children in Gia Lai will only reach 75.3%.

Regarding the prevention and control of hypertension, the number of people screened for hypertension in Gia Lai is the largest, however, the rate of suspected hypertension is the lowest (4,575/92,446 = 4.9%) due to not selecting high-risk people, which causes a waste of resources. Although the cumulative number of detected hypertension is high compared to the Central Highlands provinces (8,344 people), it only accounts for 6.9% of the estimated number of patients. The number and rate of patients managed for investigation at health stations are still very low...

Integration of expanded immunization and management and treatment of non-communicable diseases in Gia Lai photo 2

Delegates take souvenir photos at the conference. Photo: Nhu Nguyen

Based on the above situation, integrating vaccination with other services is feasible and should be integrated; in which the model of integrating expanded vaccination with management and treatment of non-communicable diseases is feasible and practical. Accordingly, during expanded vaccination campaigns, taking advantage of the time when parents and grandparents take their children for vaccination, medical staff at health stations screen for non-communicable diseases, thereby promptly detecting early and effectively treating non-communicable diseases. Integrating the model helps save time, money, human resources and screen for non-communicable diseases for more people...

At the conference, Ms. Angela Pratt - WHO Representative in Vietnam pledged to support the model to be implemented effectively and practically in the coming time. On the side of the Central Highlands Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Mr. Vien Chinh Chien - Director of the Central Highlands Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology said that he will coordinate activities, provide technical expertise to the province to implement activities and monitor, support and report on activities.

Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich (second from right) presented a souvenir to the working delegation. Photo: Nhu Nguyen

Speaking at the conference, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich said that Gia Lai is a mountainous province with many difficulties and the support to implement the model of integrating expanded immunization and management and treatment of non-communicable diseases is a useful, meaningful and practical initiative contributing to health care for people in the province. Gia Lai province is committed to cooperating to effectively implement the model and hopes that WHO will continue to pay attention to supporting health care in difficult areas in the Central Highlands in general and Gia Lai in particular.

On this occasion, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich presented souvenirs to Ms. Angela Pratt - WHO Representative in Vietnam and members of the working delegation.

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