Vietnam has made impressive progress in protecting the lives of mothers and newborns.

Investing in maternal and child health is not only about survival but also ensuring a bright and hopeful future for women and children - Photo: VGP/HM

This is the comment of Dr. Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Vietnam on the occasion of World Health Day 2025. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls for accelerated action to ensure that every mother and newborn receives the care they deserve.

Impressive numbers

According to WHO, newly released figures show that the number of women dying during pregnancy or childbirth in Vietnam has dropped significantly. It is estimated that the number of deaths has decreased by nearly half in recent decades, from 88 deaths per 100,000 births in 2000 to 48 in 2023.

Today, newborns in Vietnam are more likely to survive the first four weeks of life than ever before. In 2000, 15 out of every 1,000 newborns died; by 2023, that rate had dropped by a third to 10 deaths.

Dr Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Vietnam, said that the theme of this year's World Health Day is "Healthy Start, Bright Future", to remind us that when we prioritize the health of newborns and mothers, we will ensure a brighter future for families, communities, societies and economies .

As for Vietnam, she said, it has made impressive progress in protecting the lives of the youngest members of society and mothers, thanks to better health care, especially at the grassroots level, through immunization and improvements in nutrition, clean water and sanitation.

This success is due to the strong leadership of the Government, guidance from the Ministry of Health , the expertise and dedication of health workers at all levels, close collaboration with other agencies and support from partners, Ms. Angela Pratt emphasized.

However, the WHO Representative in Vietnam also pointed out that pregnancy and childbirth should be a time of joy, but for too many families, it is an unwanted end. The life of every mother and every newborn is precious. Therefore, we must do everything possible to close the remaining gaps in maternal and newborn health care.

There are still significant differences in mortality rates between women and children living in urban areas and those living in remote, disadvantaged areas. Mortality rates in Viet Nam are higher than the average for the Western Pacific region, where an average of 35 maternal deaths per 100,000 births occur.

To close the gap, Vietnam needs to continue investing in improving access to quality care for all mothers and newborns, especially in mountainous, remote and disadvantaged areas; improving the quality of care by supporting continuous training and skills development for health workers, and establishing quality monitoring mechanisms; ensuring uninterrupted access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene...

In addition, harnessing technology – such as digital health information systems – to improve the quality and efficiency of maternal and newborn health care and help provide the data needed to make evidence-based decisions.

“Investing in maternal and child health is not just about survival, it is about ensuring a bright and hopeful future for women and children,” said Dr Pratt.

On the WHO side, Ms. Angela Pratt said, WHO has supported the development and implementation of national policies and technical guidelines on maternal, newborn and child health; assessed the quality of care and advised on continuous improvement strategies; and supported the implementation of early essential newborn care - a package of simple, cost-effective interventions that help save the lives of many newborns.

Signs that pregnant women need to see a doctor immediately

To have a safe pregnancy and birth and to give your baby a healthy start, WHO recommends that women see a health professional as soon as they know they are pregnant. These visits help monitor the mother’s health, the baby’s development and detect possible complications.

During pregnancy, women need to maintain a healthy lifestyle by avoiding alcohol and secondhand smoke, getting recommended vaccinations, managing any existing health conditions, and seeking medical attention if they have any concerns.

Pregnant women should seek immediate medical attention if they experience unusual symptoms such as: vaginal bleeding; abdominal pain; blurred vision, sudden swelling or persistent headache; changes in fetal movement or abdominal trauma. These are not always signs of a serious problem, but it is best to see a doctor.

Immediately after birth, the health facility should create an environment that supports early essential care for the newborn, including immediate skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby for at least 90 minutes and exclusive breastfeeding.

This promotes emotional bonding and regulates the baby’s body temperature and heart rate. Women should also attend all postnatal check-ups, to monitor their recovery and address any problems that may arise.

HM

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/viet-nam-dat-nhieu-tien-bo-an-tuong-trong-bao-ve-sinh-mang-ba-me-va-tre-so-sinh-102250408135911479.htm