According to WHO, newly released figures show that the number of women dying during pregnancy or childbirth in Vietnam has dropped significantly. The estimated number of deaths has almost halved in recent decades, from 88 women per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 48 in 2023. Newborns in Vietnam have a higher chance of surviving the first four weeks of life. In 2000, 15 out of every 1,000 live births died; by 2023, the rate had dropped by a third, to 10 deaths.
Dr Angela Pratt said the progress was due to better health care, especially at the grassroots level, immunisation and improvements in nutrition, water and sanitation, strong government leadership, guidance from the Ministry of Health, the expertise and dedication of health workers at all levels, strong collaboration with other agencies and support from partners.
WHO recognizes Vietnam's impressive efforts in protecting mothers and newborns. (Illustration photo) |
In recent years, WHO has supported Viet Nam in developing and implementing national policies and technical guidance on maternal, newborn and child health; assessing quality of care and advising on continuous improvement strategies; and supporting the implementation of early essential newborn care – a package of simple, cost-effective interventions that save the lives of many newborns.
“Pregnancy and childbirth should be a time of joy, but for too many families, they are an unwelcome end. Every mother and every baby is precious, so we must do everything we can to close the gaps in maternal and newborn health care,” said Dr. Angela Pratt.
However, the mortality rate in Viet Nam is currently higher than the Western Pacific region average, with an average of 35 maternal deaths per 100,000 births. There is also a significant disparity in mortality rates between women and children living in urban areas and those living in remote areas where access to quality maternal health care services is difficult.
According to Dr. Angela Pratt, 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. Vietnam also needs to improve 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, soap, disposable towels or hand dryers and cleaning supplies, as well as essential medicines and supplies…
WHO also recommends that women see a health professional as soon as they know they are pregnant. These visits help monitor the mother’s health, the development of the baby, and detect possible complications. During pregnancy, women should maintain a healthy lifestyle by avoiding alcohol and secondhand smoke, getting the recommended vaccinations, managing any existing health conditions, and seeking medical attention if they have any concerns.
Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/who-viet-nam-tien-bo-an-tuong-trong-bao-ve-ba-me-va-tre-so-sinh-212339.html
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