Vietnam has made great strides in the field of care and treatment of premature babies.

SKĐS - Vietnam has made great strides, successfully saving and caring for many premature and underweight babies, even babies under 500 grams, helping them grow up healthy and develop normally physically and mentally.

Premature birth is the leading cause of death in newborns.

On the morning of November 14, the Ministry of Health coordinated with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to organize a ceremony to respond to "World Day for Premature Babies" - an event in a series of activities in November 2025 - the peak month to promote the implementation of activities for premature babies in 2025, to raise public awareness about caring for, protecting and supporting premature babies, contributing to ensuring that every child has a good start in life.

Attending the event were Dr. Nguyen Tri Thuc, Deputy Minister of Health , Ms. Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam, representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), representatives of hospitals in the Central and Hanoi...

Dr. Nguyen Tri Thuc, Deputy Minister of Health, spoke at the event.

According to WHO, every year globally, more than 13 million babies are born prematurely, meaning 1 in 10 babies are born prematurely. Premature birth is the leading cause of death in newborns, accounting for about 1 million deaths each year. Babies who survive premature birth often face many long-term health problems such as developmental delays, motor disabilities, vision and hearing loss, and behavioral and learning disorders.

In Vietnam, premature birth remains a significant health problem. Approximately 25% of neonatal deaths are due to premature birth/low birth weight. Although the health sector has made great progress in neonatal care and treatment for premature babies, this group of babies remains at high risk and requires special attention from both the health system and society as a whole.

In response to World Premature Birth Day (November 17 every year) and to strengthen care and support activities for this vulnerable group of children, the Ministry of Health has instructed localities and units to implement the "Peak Month of Action for Premature Birth" nationwide from November 1 to 30, 2025, focusing on communication and enhancing the provision of support services for premature births. This activity aims to raise public awareness, mobilize the participation of ministries, branches, localities and the whole society in preventing premature births, taking care of the health of pregnant mothers, as well as strengthening medical services to care for and treat premature births, helping them have the opportunity to live, develop healthily and comprehensively.

Speaking at the World Premature Infant Day celebration, Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Nguyen Tri Thuc, said that in recent years, Vietnam has made remarkable progress in the field of care and treatment of premature infants. "We have successfully saved and cared for many premature and low birth weight infants, even those weighing less than 500 grams, helping them grow up healthy and develop normally physically and mentally. Every smile on a child's face, every tear of emotion from the parents is a great source of encouragement for the medical staff to continue to make efforts and contribute to premature infants, to the future generations of Vietnam."

Inspired by the theme of World Health Day 2025, launched by the World Health Organization, Healthy Starts, Bright Futures, the theme of World Prematurity Day 2025 has been chosen as “Strong Starts, Bright Futures for Premature Babies”. The day calls on governments, health systems and communities to ensure that every preterm baby receives the care and opportunity they need to survive and thrive.

Ensuring every premature baby receives the best health care

Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Nguyen Tri Thuc, emphasized that to reduce neonatal mortality, especially deaths due to premature birth/low birth weight, Vietnam needs to continue to focus resources, increase preventive interventions and provide safe and effective neonatal care. He affirmed: "We must ensure that all premature babies receive the best health care and a solid start for a bright future. Our goal is that all Vietnamese children born have the opportunity to live, be healthy and develop, becoming high-quality human resources for the country entering a new era."

According to the Ministry of Health, reducing the rate of premature and low birth weight babies is not only the responsibility of the health sector but also requires the coordinated efforts of many sectors, authorities at all levels and the entire community. It is necessary to have the participation of ministries and sectors in ensuring health care conditions for pregnant women; of local authorities in implementing primary health care services; of the community in raising awareness and understanding of pregnancy care; along with practical support from international and domestic organizations.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Tri Thuc and leaders of the Department of Mothers and Children, Ministry of Health received meaningful support gifts from accompanying units to give to premature babies and newborns.

Dr. Nguyen Tri Thuc believes that combining international experience and practice in Vietnam will help us continue to reduce the rate of premature birth and neonatal mortality, while improving the quality of life for premature babies and their families.

In addition, the Ministry of Health also focuses on promoting health education and communication, helping women of childbearing age and pregnant women understand the risk factors leading to premature birth (such as improper nutrition, pregnancy diseases, overwork, stress, marriage or giving birth at too young or too late age...) and proactively go for regular check-ups and pregnancy management to receive effective advice, care and prevention of premature birth.

At the response ceremony, the Department of Mothers and Children (Ministry of Health) received meaningful support gifts from accompanying units to give to premature babies and newborns: BaBu Vietnam Joint Stock Company donated 2,500 sets of clothes for premature babies; Kimberly Clark Vietnam Company donated 2,000 products with a value equivalent to 400 million VND.

These gifts demonstrate the care, sharing and social responsibility of Vietnamese enterprises towards maternal and child health care, especially for premature babies and children in difficult circumstances.

Preventive measures for premature birth

Preterm birth cannot be completely prevented, but we can significantly reduce the risk by investing in maternal health, improving the quality of prenatal care, and empowering families to be partners in child care.

When health systems and individual mothers work together, we not only help babies be born on time, but also protect the future of millions of babies.

Here are some things parents and communities can do together – starting with taking care of maternal health and being proactive before and during pregnancy.

Before Pregnancy – Preparing for a Healthy Motherhood Journey

Pre-marital or pre-pregnancy health check-up: helps detect and treat early chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and infections – factors that can lead to premature birth.

Get fully vaccinated against dangerous diseases before pregnancy (such as Rubella, Hepatitis B, tetanus...) to protect mother and fetus.

Maintain a healthy weight, eat healthy, exercise regularly – a healthy body is the foundation of a safe pregnancy.

Say no to cigarettes, alcohol and stimulants.

Be proactive about pregnancy planning – don't have children too early (teenage) or too close together.

During pregnancy – Every prenatal check-up is a step to protect your baby.

Early and regular prenatal check-ups on schedule to monitor fetal development, early detection of multiple pregnancies, preeclampsia or other complications.

Eat a diet rich in nutrients, especially iron, calcium, folic acid and protein; drink enough water every day.

Rest, get enough sleep and avoid stress. A peaceful mind helps a stable pregnancy.

Follow your health care provider's instructions if you are at risk of premature labor – such as bed rest, medication, or hospitalization.

Keep in regular contact with your healthcare provider – don’t be afraid to ask if there are any unusual changes (abdominal pain, bleeding, amniotic fluid leakage…).

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/viet-nam-co-nhieu-tien-bo-vuot-bac-trong-linh-vuc-cham-soc-va-dieu-tri-tre-sinh-non-169251114104327822.htm