Schoolchildren in Quảng Trị Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Hồ Cầu

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam has approved a directive to strengthen measures on care for and protection of children affected by COVID-19.

According to Directive No.36/CT-TTg, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) must work with other ministries and agencies to propose measures regarding care for and protection of orphans in general and orphans caused by the pandemic in line with the law, raise public awareness of the effort to uphold the role of the society and residential community in the process, ensuring comprehensive growth of children.

The MoLISA was also required to regularly report the implementation of the Directive to the Prime Minister.

The Ministry of Health will continue to ensure pandemic prevention and control measures while stepping up vaccination for children as directed by the Government and the PM.

The focus for the Ministry of Education and Training remains safety in teaching and learning, ensuring education quality, and coordinating with families during online classes and when the children return to school. 

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is also tasked with promoting the role of the family in taking care of young children amid COVID-19, highlighting the role of physical and mental exercises to stay healthy during the pandemic.

The Ministry of Information and Communications was required to effectively carry out the programme Sóng và máy tính cho em (Internet connection and computers for students), while the Television and the Voice of Việt Nam must continue airing school lessons as well as skills to help children improve their physical and mental health.

The People’s Committees of centrally-run cities and provinces were assigned to ensure timely, safe and effective vaccination and treatment for children in line with the Government and PM’s directions and Health Ministry’s guidelines.

They must partner with the Việt Nam Fatherland Front and its chapters, socio-political organisations to promote the enforcement of policies related to children, particularly orphans and those hit by the pandemic, in line with the laws. — VNS