Improve the quality of coastal population

(Baonghean) -In 2010, Nghe An implemented Project 52 on "Population control in coastal and marine areas". After nearly 5 years of implementation, the Project has contributed to raising awareness and behavior on reproductive health care/family planning, initially stabilizing the scale, improving the quality of the population in coastal and marine areas, and promoting local socio-economic development.

Population officers of the coastal commune of Quynh Tho - Quynh Luu propagate to people about contraceptive methods. Photo: Thanh Hung

Nghi Quang used to be one of the most difficult communes in Nghi Loc district. People were both fishermen and Catholics, so the third child birth rate in the whole commune was often high, over 30%. That made population work face many obstacles, the most difficult of which was changing people's mindset. Most of the people here believed that: The sea is vast, lacking people, lacking labor to catch fish, not worrying about food and clothing. Therefore, not only did a family have 3 children, but they also had 4, 5 or even more to continue the "hereditary" seafaring profession and to prepare for it because they knew that fishing at sea would have many dangers and difficulties...

The awareness of Nghi Quang people has only really changed since Project 52 on "Population control in coastal and marine areas" was deployed in 2010. By promoting propaganda and diversifying forms of advocacy and communication such as organizing thematic talks, establishing clubs for families not having a third child, and young family clubs, people have access to knowledge about reproductive health and family planning. In addition to propaganda in the form of concentrated groups, population collaborators also go to each household to mobilize people to sign a commitment to family planning; establish a young family club with the main members being newlyweds, or couples with only 1 to 2 children. Ms. Hoang Thi Nhung, Head of Thanh Vinh 1 Hamlet Club, shared: More than 90% of people in the hamlet work at sea. Understanding the psychology of having many children, through the activities we always try to incorporate knowledge about family planning to create a change in people's thinking. Currently, in the club there are many families with only one child but they are determined not to have more children to have good conditions to raise their children. The rate of having a third child has decreased from 15.5% (in 2013) to 0.5%.

Talking about the implementation of Project 52, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang, population specialist of Nghi Quang commune, said: The advantage of Nghi Quang is that both the government and departments and branches are unanimous in implementing it. In particular, although it is still a poor commune, for many years the commune has always maintained a reward policy for hamlets and families that do not have a third child. The commune's budget is used to support an additional population collaborator with 105,000 VND/month, in addition to the support level of the province and the national target program...

Project 52 on “Controlling population in coastal and coastal areas” was implemented in the province in early 2010, when the population in coastal areas increased dramatically. Thanks to the project’s support, the districts have established 5 mobile medical - population teams at the district level, periodically organizing communication, consultation and providing maternal and child health care/family planning services for target groups every 3 months. Thanks to that, after 5 years of implementation, 243 service provision sessions were conducted in 39 communes; 143,215 target groups were contacted for communication and consultation on reproductive health care/family planning services; 129,342 people were examined and 63,234 people were treated for gynecological diseases. In addition, models to improve the quality of birth have been gradually and effectively implemented, with over 4,000 young people preparing to get married receiving health check-ups, and over 15,000 pregnant mothers being monitored and examined promptly.

In addition, activities to support the prevention of reproductive tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases have been implemented in 5 communes of Quynh Luu district; activities to support the prevention of unwanted pregnancies have also been implemented in 5 coastal communes of Cua Lo town, and many Nghe Tinh Folk Song Clubs have been established to promote population work with many self-composed works of high propaganda value. Over the past 5 years, the rate of people working and living in coastal areas and coastal areas with access to reproductive health care/family planning services has increased from 67% to 76%; The rate of children with deformities, disabilities and intellectual disabilities due to metabolic disorders and genetics has decreased on average annually from 1.02% in 2009 to 0.52% in 2013, the rate of malnutrition has decreased from 17% to below 13%. Mr. Nguyen Trung Thanh, Deputy Head of the Department of Population and Family Planning, affirmed: The project's operational models have brought into play many positive aspects, gradually improving, meeting the increasing needs of coastal people. At the same time, contributing to changing the awareness of coastal and coastal people about maternal and child health care, reproductive health and family planning, enhancing people's access to basic social services and contributing to improving the quality of human resources of the local population sector.

In the coming time, the budget for the project under the national target program is increasingly narrowing, therefore, to maintain the project, it is necessary to have the participation of all levels and sectors. Mr. Phan Van Hue, Head of the Population Department, Department of Population/Family Planning, said: For the program to be implemented in the long term, it is necessary to have support from the government and mass organizations, it is necessary to integrate the project with local socio-economic activities; support annual funding for project activities. In addition, it is necessary to continue to promote communication and mobilization activities, regularly innovate the content and form of propaganda from the district to the grassroots with many forms: mobilization at home, propaganda through CSSKSR campaigns, through the radio system; Continue to organize mobile service teams to coastal communes to carry out communication activities, provide services such as ultrasound, gynecological examination, reproductive health counseling; Coordinate with the commune health station to examine and treat common gynecological diseases, pregnancy examinations, provide safe and timely services to the people... Advise the Party Committee and government in leading and directing population work and investing resources to ensure effective organization of activities. Improve knowledge and skills for grassroots population staff to meet the requirements and assigned tasks.

My Ha