Nghe An: Flexibility in implementing population communication campaign

Convenience in accessing services

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan (Ky Lien hamlet, Ky Son commune) was one of the first people to register for a reproductive health check-up on the first day of the Integrated Communication Campaign to Provide Reproductive Health Care/Family Planning Services in Ky Son commune, Tan Ky district. At nearly 40 years old and with two children, Ms. Lan said that she still occasionally goes for a health check-up whenever she has signs of illness or fatigue. However, reproductive health check-ups are quite rare, although she knows that many married women are sick.

Health sector leaders visit service delivery model in Ky Son commune - Tan Ky district. Photo: My Ha

Among hundreds of people who came to the Medical Center of Ky Son Commune, Tan Ky District to register for a reproductive health check-up, Ms. Phan Thi H, 50 years old this year, had not had a health check-up for many years. Through endoscopy, the doctor diagnosed her with a fairly severe cervical tumor. After detecting abnormal signs, she was directed to the hospital or provincial medical facilities for further examination and timely treatment.

One of the goals of the Integrated Communication Campaign to provide reproductive health care/family planning services and improve population quality is to bring services to the grassroots level to help people have the opportunity to visit and check their health, especially reproductive health.

Over the years of organizing, what we have noticed most when implementing services in villages and hamlets is that people participate in large numbers and all want to have a general health check-up. Many cases have been detected and consulted for appropriate treatment. On the part of the Department of Population - Family Planning, to provide high efficiency, we have coordinated with hospitals, skilled and experienced doctors and brought many modern machines directly to serve the people.

Ms. Thai Thi Tuyet - Head of Population Department, Department of Population - Family Planning said:

The integrated communication campaign to provide reproductive health/family planning services and improve population quality is an annual activity organized and implemented in all communes, wards and towns. Thereby, it aims to innovate and improve the quality of communication activities, provide reproductive health/family planning services and improve population quality in the areas where the Campaign is implemented. In addition, it will focus on tasks such as reducing birth rates, reducing the rate of third or more children, reducing unwanted pregnancies, improving maternal and child health, promoting not getting married and having children too early, not having children too often and not having many children, contributing to improving population quality and sustainable development.

Media consultation on population policy for people participating in the campaign. Photo: My Ha

At this year's launching ceremony held in Tan Ky district, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Hoa - Director of the Department of Health mentioned the difficulties and challenges of the province's population work when Nghe An is still a province with a large population (ranked fourth in the country), a high birth rate (2.61 children) and continues to increase, the province with the 6th highest birth rate in the country.

In particular, the birth rate of the third child or more has decreased but is still high (29.45%); the gender imbalance at birth is at an alarming level (116.65 boys/100 girls); although population quality has improved, it is still low; the rate of newborns with genetic diseases, disabilities, and malnutrition is still high... All of these have affected the implementation of the goal of reducing births, reducing births of the third child or more and improving population quality.

In the above context, the head of the health sector also identified the implementation of annual campaigns, including service provision activities, as one of the core elements of population work.

Overcoming difficulties to implement effectively

The integrated communication campaign to provide reproductive health care/family planning services and improve population quality as planned will be organized throughout the province with 3 goals: Innovate and improve the quality of communication activities, provide reproductive health care/family planning services and improve population quality in the areas where the campaign is implemented; Promote propaganda on the benefits of having fewer children, focusing on reducing the birth rate, reducing the rate of third or more children, reducing unwanted pregnancies, reducing abortions, improving maternal and child health; Diversify types and communication products on population and development, ensuring quality.

Immediately after the province’s launching ceremony, the campaign has also begun to be implemented in localities. In Yen Thanh district, according to the plan, from now until the end of the year, the campaign will be implemented in two phases with all 39 communes and towns in the district. In April alone, the campaign will “open” in the first 19 communes, focusing on communes with high birth rates, special and difficult communes.

Health sector leaders visit service delivery model in Ky Son commune - Tan Ky district. Photo: My Ha

Before that, tocampaignTo effectively implement the campaign, the District Health Center has advised the District People's Committee to establish a Steering Committee for Population and Development, headed by the Chairman of the District People's Committee. At the same time, the District People's Committee has also issued a document to deploy the plan to each commune and town and requested the participation of all localities. In order for the campaign to be effectively implemented, Yen Thanh district has annually allocated more than 60 million VND from the budget from the Project to stabilize birth rates and improve population quality to organize communication activities. Meanwhile, the communes and towns have also provided funds to purchase materials and equipment for the campaign.

During the discussion, Mr. Phan Quoc Tuan - Deputy Director of the District Health Center added: After the merger, the implementation of activities at the grassroots level encountered many difficulties. However, in the district, we promptly advised on the project to stabilize the birth rate and improve the quality of the population, so population activities were not interrupted. Moreover, thanks to the direct direction from the District People's Committee, the implementation was easier and more effective, with priority given to specific, difficult areas with high birth rates.

The Provincial Department of Population and Family Planning coordinated with the Yen Thanh District Health Center to organize reproductive health check-ups for people in Duc Thanh Commune - a disadvantaged commune with a high birth rate. Photo: DSNA

In the context of budget cuts, Cua Lo Town Health Center has implemented the campaign in the form of socialization "the state and the people do it together". Sharing about this, Ms. Dinh Thi Nga - Head of Population and Communication Department - Town Health Center said: The campaign will be deployed by Cua Lo Town from this week and simultaneously in 7 wards and communes.

What is new this year is that all health stations in the area are cooperating with reputable facilities in Vinh city to provide health check-ups and services to people. The program is implemented at a reasonable price, only about 1/3 of the price of outside services, so it is expected that many people will participate.

The Department of Population and Family Planning of Nghe An province organized a program to provide reproductive health care consultation for adolescents and young people for students of Phan Dang Luu High School. Photo: DSNA

Reality also shows that the communication campaign integrates service provision, in which service provision is the core element, but to effectively implement it, it needs budget support. Meanwhile, after more than 3 years of merging the population sector with the health centers of districts and towns, the implementation at the grassroots level has encountered many difficulties, especially in mountainous districts with limited budget sources.

To successfully implement the goals and targets set for the year, the Director of the Department of Health has requested that Party committees, authorities, departments, branches and organizations at all levels continue to pay attention, lead, direct and invest resources in population work and identify this as an important and regular task, both a goal and a premise for improving population quality.

At the same time, districts, cities and units need to establish a Campaign Steering Committee, develop plans and organize the implementation of the campaign in accordance with the conditions of each locality and at the right address and target.