At Children's Hospital 2 in HCM City, a doctor presents gifts to a child patient on the occasion of International Children's Day (June 1). — VNA/VNS Photo Thu Hương

HCM CITY — In an effort to address its declining fertility rate, HCM City is considering solutions to better care for pregnant women, newborns, and children in the city.

The city’s Department of Health has submitted a proposal outlining solutions to increase the city’s fertility rate by 2030 to the municipal People’s Committee’s for approval.

Under the proposal, pregnant women, newborns and children in the city will be eligible for support from the city government.

It includes fully covering the costs for pregnant women participating in prenatal and newborn screening programmes.

It also provides full reimbursement of expenses (after deducting the amount covered by health insurance) for regular prenatal check-ups and childbirth.

Additionally, the proposal suggests planning and constructing childcare centres and kindergartens that cater to the needs of mothers, especially in export processing zones, industrial areas, and urban districts.

It also aims to pilot worker-friendly services such as adjusting childcare hours and supporting boarding school expenses for preschool and elementary students.

It also encourages the establishment of breastfeeding rooms at workplaces.

According to the city's Department of Health, HCM City is one of 21 provinces and cities with the lowest fertility rates in the country. 

The city’s fertility rate is 1.32 children per woman of reproductive age, steadily decreasing from a rate of 1.76 in 2000.

A decline in fertility rates impacts population size, age distribution, reduction in the working-age population, migration trends and acceleration of population aging. It also hampers the potential of demographic dividends.

Therefore, the city government is strengthening state population management to improve its low fertility rate. — VNS