An MoU being signed on May 26 by the Vietnam Pediatrics Association and US pharmaceuticals giant Pfizer (Việt Nam) to enhance the skills of paediatric healthcare workers by 2026. — Photo courtesy of Pfizer Vietnam

HÀ NỘI — The Vietnam Pediatrics Association (VPA) and US drug company Pfizer (Việt Nam) on May 26 signed a memorandum of understanding for enhancing the capacity of paediatric healthcare workers in the country.

Through interdisciplinary co-ordination and instruction on how to use antibiotics safely and effectively, they seek to enhance the capacity of healthcare workers in pulmonary, neonatology, emergency resuscitation, infectious diseases, and surgical departments.

In Việt Nam, some 33,000 children aged under five years die of preventable diseases every year. 

The World Health Organization said pneumonia is the leading cause of death of children under five years of age globally.

Trần Minh Điển, president of the VPA, said the COVID-19 pandemic has led to unpredictability in the disease model, creating more difficulties in paediatric healthcare.

"In the disease model in Việt Nam, infectious diseases ranked top, especially respiratory and gastrointestinal infections and seasonal epidemics, and they require attention in terms of both prevention and treatment," he said.

The VPA hopes to collaborate with various institutions to enhance the knowledge, skills and attitudes of paediatric doctors and nurses to improve healthcare services for children across the country, he said.

This partnership is expected to promote co-operation and effectively carry out activities to achieve equity in healthcare for children, he said.

Darrell Oh, general director of Pfizer Vietnam, said infectious diseases are a global concern in public health and antibiotics are a primary area of focus for Pfizer.

“When it comes to paediatric health, capacity building for paediatric patients as well as the safe and effective application of antibiotics in treatment will help improve the quality of the health system.”

Pfizer is a leader in areas like infection, oncology, rare diseases, immunology and inflammation, internal medicine, cardiology, vaccines. — VNS