On April 8, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for accelerated action to ensure every mother and newborn receives the care they deserve.
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 - WHO Representative in Vietnam said that the theme of this year's World Health Day (January 7) is "Healthy Start, Bright Future." This theme reminds us that by prioritizing the health of newborns and mothers, we will ensure a brighter future for families, communities, societies and economies .
“Vietnam has made impressive progress in protecting the lives of the youngest members of society and mothers,” he said.
The WHO Representative in Viet Nam said that this progress was due to better health care, especially at the grassroots level, through immunization and improvements in nutrition, water and sanitation. This success was due to strong leadership from 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. WHO has been collaborating in these efforts.
In recent years, under the leadership of the Government, WHO has supported Viet Nam in developing and implementing national policies and technical guidelines on maternal, newborn and child health; assessing the 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,” said Dr. Angela Pratt. “Every mother and every newborn is precious, so we must do everything we can to close the gaps in maternal and newborn health care.”
There remains a significant disparity in mortality rates between women and children living in urban areas and those living in remote, disadvantaged areas where they have difficulty accessing quality maternal health services. Mortality rates in Viet Nam are higher than the WHO Western Pacific Region average, where there are an average of 35 maternal deaths per 100,000 births.
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. In addition, Vietnam 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…
Dr Angela Pratt stressed that investing in maternal and child health is not just about survival, it is about ensuring a bright and hopeful future for women and children and therefore a bright and hopeful future for Vietnam.
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 should maintain a healthy lifestyle by avoiding alcohol and second-hand smoke, getting vaccinated as recommended, managing any existing health conditions and seeking medical attention if they have any concerns./.
(Vietnam+)
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/who-viet-nam-tien-bo-an-tuong-trong-viec-bao-ve-sinh-mang-ba-me-tre-so-sinh-post1026462.vnp
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