Ninh Thuận province strengthens efforts to prevent malnutrition in children under five. — VNA/VNS Photo

NINH THUẬN — The south-central province of Ninh Thuận is intensifying measures to reduce child mortality caused by diseases, drowning, accidents, food poisoning, and natural disasters.

According to Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Trần Quốc Nam, this effort aligns with the "Intervention to Reduce Under-5 Child Mortality by 2030" programme.

The provincial People's Committee has requested the Department of Health to strengthen efforts to prevent malnutrition in children under five.

The department is also encouraged to enhance communication about child healthcare, apply information technology, and connect health databases to manage children's health.

The efficiency of the village health worker network and midwives in rural areas should be bolstered while funds for their allowances should be allocated.

The department should ensure that vaccination programmes for target groups within the expanded immunisation programme are implemented safely, effectively, and with high coverage.

Periodic health check-ups for children are to be carried out, utilising both paper and electronic versions of the Mother and Child Health Monitoring Book - a continuous monitoring tool for managing children's health.

The Department of Health has instructed healthcare facilities specialising in obstetrics and paediatrics to strengthen their capacity for emergency response and neonatal resuscitation.

They have also promoted widespread adoption of specialised interventions for essential maternal and newborn care during and immediately after natural or caesarean births.

Both public and private healthcare facilities are implementing specialised interventions for neonatal emergency care and child health.

Healthcare facilities in Ninh Thuận have established and are operating a "Red Alert" system within and between hospitals for obstetric and paediatric emergencies, ensuring timely emergency responses both within hospitals and in external emergency situations.

In recent years, efforts to reduce under-five child mortality have continued to be integrated into maternal and child health care and nutritional improvement programmes for children.

The infant mortality rate in the province decreased from 4.67 per cent in 2021 to 3.4 per cent in 2023.

The infant mortality rate among ethnic minorities dropped from 4.95 per cent in 2021 to 3.7 per cent in 2023.

The under-five child mortality rate fell from 5.2 per cent in 2021 to 3.6 per cent in 2023.

The under-five mortality rate among ethnic minority children decreased from 6.86 per cent in 2021 to 5.9 per cent in 2023.

However, the results achieved in 2022-23 still have some shortcomings.

The under-five child mortality rate in some localities remains uneven, especially in ethnic minority and mountainous regions.

The mortality rate from accidents and injuries among children under five remains high.

Although local authorities have included the goal of reducing under-five child mortality in their socio-economic development plans, funding for the "Intervention to Reduce Under-5 Child Mortality by 2030" programme has not been adequately allocated. — VNS