Nghe An's population overcomes difficulties to fulfill a 'dual' task.
While the whole country is shifting its focus from family planning to improving the quality of the population, Nghe An's population work still has to carry out both tasks simultaneously, implementing comprehensive solutions to both reduce birth rates and improve the quality of the population.
Strengthen communication
Dai Son is one of the first eight communes in Do Luong district to complete the integrated communication campaign providing reproductive health/family planning services and improving population quality in 2024. As a unique area, the campaign to encourage Dai Son residents to get health checkups and implement family planning measures previously faced many difficulties. Recently, although people's awareness has changed, there are still many obstacles in ensuring they fully understand population policies.
"I've been involved in population work in this area for 20 years, and this is perhaps the most challenging period. In 2023, the rate of third births in the commune was over 42%, much higher than the district average. Many families, especially those with better financial means, want to have many children to have both sons and daughters, or to have more sons."
Ms. Le Thi Kim Oanh - Population officer of Dai Son commune
To mobilize nearly 300 women to participate in the population campaign, before the program was implemented, Dai Son commune integrated propaganda into many meetings of local associations such as women's and farmers' associations; in addition, it strengthened communication through the commune's public address system.
Based on the implementation, Ms. Le Thi Kim Oanh, a population officer in Dai Son commune, shared: "This 2024 population campaign was implemented with many activities, from health check-ups and reproductive health counseling to family planning, thus attracting many participants. Through counseling, people gradually raised their awareness to effectively implement family planning and improve the quality of the population."
It has been learned that after the People's Council of Do Luong district abolished Resolution 05 on the implementation of some population policies, population work in the area faced many difficulties. Many people believe that with relaxed population policies, people no longer need to practice family planning or limit childbirth. This is also why, in recent years, the rate of third births in Do Luong district has increased by over 30% and is at risk of further increase.
To raise public awareness, Do Luong district has recently intensified activities such as disseminating information on reproductive health/family planning to various target groups including youth union members, women's association members, and farmers' association members. At the same time, the district has also promoted population communication campaigns, bringing services closer to the community.
During the first phase of this year's population campaign, we provided completely free services to the public, including gynecological check-ups and IUD insertion. People also received free abdominal and thyroid ultrasounds, and free blood sugar and blood pressure tests, resulting in a large turnout. We saw this as an opportunity to integrate and promote awareness among the public about implementing population/family planning policies.
Mr. Hoang Duc Thuy - Head of Population Department - Do Luong District Health Center
Although only half the campaign has been underway, Tan Ky district is already one of the first to complete the population campaign, with all 22 communes and towns having finished. Mr. Ho Minh Ha, Head of the Population Department of the Tan Ky District Health Center, shared: "The implementation of the population campaign is currently facing many difficulties due to budget cuts. Therefore, before implementation, we advised the District People's Committee to develop a plan, supplement funding, and assign tasks to localities. During the implementation process, the district also connected with other units to organize free examinations and consultations, which were enthusiastically received by the people."
Improving the quality of the population
The reproductive health/family planning campaign is one of the key tasks of the Nghe An Population Department and lasts for many months each year. In 2024, following the launch ceremony in Ky Son district, the campaign was implemented synchronously in all 21 districts, cities, and towns. Some localities have basically completed the goals and targets for the reproductive health/family planning service packages set for 2024.
"The population campaign is an annual activity that attracts thousands of women of reproductive age. Through examinations, consultations, provision of knowledge, and access to services aimed at improving reproductive health, women will enhance their awareness, understanding, and consciousness in taking care of themselves and implementing family planning measures."
Ms. Thai Thi Tuyet - Head of the Population Department, Nghe An Provincial Population and Family Planning Sub-Department
Alongside the implementation of the communication campaign, in the first six months of 2024, the Population Department of Nghe An province continued to maintain and implement models and projects aimed at improving the quality of the population, such as the Project on screening, diagnosis, and treatment of certain diseases and disabilities before and after birth; and the Project on reducing the birth rate and the rate of third births. In addition, they organized thematic talks on reproductive health care, community communication and counseling sessions on reproductive health care to contribute to building happy families; and communication on population and development, improving the quality of the population... for officials and members of the Women's Union.
Propaganda efforts have also been intensified through various mass media channels. The Provincial Population and Family Planning Department has completed the production of communication materials for mountainous areas and areas with high birth rates; conducted surveys and repaired key billboards in the area; and maintained the timely distribution of communication materials on population issues to local communities. Thanks to these efforts, in the first six months of the year, the number of births across the province decreased by 400 compared to the same period last year. The number of children born as the third child or more, and the sex ratio at birth, also decreased, showing many positive signs.
However, despite the achievements, the province's population work still faces many difficulties and challenges. In particular, since 2021, when funding for the Health and Population Target Program (the main source of funding) was significantly reduced, it has affected the implementation of the sector's political tasks.
The overall data also shows that although the birth rate has decreased, it lacks sustainability. In some remote areas, coastal regions, densely populated areas, and areas with a large Catholic population, the rate of having a third child or more remains high, the rate of gynecological diseases among women is still high, and the gender imbalance at birth is on the rise. These are extremely difficult issues that require the efforts of population workers from the provincial to the grassroots level.
Given the above reality, simultaneously carrying out the two tasks of the Nghe An Population Department in the coming period will face many difficulties.
From now until the end of the year, we will continue to focus on directing, guiding, and organizing the implementation of the integrated communication campaign providing reproductive health/family planning services and improving population quality, phase 2/2024, in districts, cities, and towns. At the same time, we will carry out activities to provide reproductive health/family planning services in particularly disadvantaged communes, religious areas, coastal areas, special areas, areas with high birth rates, industrial zones, etc.
Mr. Phan Van Hue - Deputy Head of the Population and Family Planning Department of Nghe An province.
The sector has also identified its main task as achieving and exceeding assigned targets, especially those related to reducing birth rates, decreasing the rate of third and subsequent births, reducing the sex ratio at birth, and gradually improving the quality of the population and healthcare for the elderly. From there, practical and effective solutions will be developed to achieve the set goals.
