Happy and safe children in the digital age.

The 2026 Action Month for Children, themed "Happy, Safe, and Steadfast Children in the Digital Age," reflects the concern of all levels of government, sectors, and society as a whole for the care, education, and protection of children in the new context. Beyond ensuring children's basic rights, this year's Action Month particularly emphasizes protecting children in the online environment, caring for their mental health, and building a safe and healthy living environment for their holistic development.

Reporters from Quang Ninh Newspaper and Radio & Television interviewed Mr. Le Minh Son, Deputy Director of the Department of Health, about the key contents of this year's Action Month for Children.

- In 2026, Quang Ninh was selected by the Ministry of Health to host the Launch Ceremony of the 2026 Action Month for Children. How do you assess the significance of this event for the care and protection of children in the province?

The fact that Quang Ninh has been selected by the Ministry of Health to host the Launch Ceremony of the Action Month for Children in 2026 is of paramount importance to the work of caring for and protecting children in the province.

First and foremost, this demonstrates that Quang Ninh has done a good job in caring for and protecting children in recent years. It also provides an opportunity for the province to continue showing its strong commitment to protecting the rights and comprehensively caring for children, while affirming Quang Ninh's proactive role in national-level activities for children. Furthermore, the event contributes to raising community awareness about the importance of child care and protection, especially in the digital age where technological skills and knowledge are becoming essential tools for the younger generation.

By hosting the launching ceremony, the province also had the opportunity to implement many practical programs and activities aimed at the grassroots level, such as awarding scholarships, bicycles, and providing livelihood support; organizing learning and digital skills training movements, etc. This contributed to improving the material and spiritual lives of children, equipping them with skills, and building a safe and healthy environment for their holistic development.

- This year's plan places particular emphasis on protecting children online and caring for their mental health. Are these new and urgent issues that need to be addressed today, sir?

Yes, these are very urgent and topical issues in the current context. In the digital age, children are increasingly exposed to the Internet, social media, online games, and digital technology platforms at an early age. This brings many opportunities to access knowledge and develop skills, but at the same time, it also poses many risks such as being abused, bullied, or having their personal information misused online. Therefore, protecting children in cyberspace is becoming an urgent requirement, demanding proactive action from families, schools, government agencies, and society as a whole.

Furthermore, children's mental health is also a matter requiring special attention. Academic pressure, the impact of the social environment, and the rapid changes of modern life are significantly affecting children's psychology. Focusing on mental health care will help children develop comprehensively, become more mentally resilient, and improve their adaptability and self-protection abilities.

It can be said that focusing on these two areas not only demonstrates the timely attention of the whole country in general, and Quang Ninh in particular, to the issues arising in the context of modern society, but also meets current practical requirements, contributing to creating a safe and healthy environment for children to develop comprehensively in terms of physical, mental and digital skills.

Equip children with swimming skills to prevent accidents and injuries during the summer.

- During the 2026 Children's Action Month, what key activities will the health sector focus on to support disadvantaged children, children in remote areas, and to prevent accidents and drowning during the summer?

This year, the provincial health sector will take the lead and coordinate the implementation of many key activities aimed at caring for and protecting children, especially children in difficult circumstances and children in remote areas; while also strengthening accident and drowning prevention efforts during the summer.

First, we will coordinate with local authorities to organize health check-up programs, nutritional counseling, and mental health care for children, ensuring their holistic development both physically and mentally. Alongside this, the sector will strengthen communication activities and training on accident prevention, drowning prevention, injury prevention, and ensuring children's safety during the summer. Simultaneously, programs supporting disadvantaged children, such as mobilizing agencies and businesses to sponsor children until they reach 18 years of age; awarding scholarships and gifts; and coordinating basic medical care, will be widely implemented in communes, wards, and special zones, especially in remote and rural areas.

Through these activities, the province hopes to contribute to better care for children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds and those in remote areas; creating conditions for them to have a safe, healthy summer and to develop comprehensively both physically and mentally.

Thank you, sir!

Ngo Dieu (Editor)

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/tre-em-hanh-phuc-an-toan-trong-ky-nguyen-so-3408650.html