Launching the 2021 population communication campaign

Morning of April 8, Steering Committeepopulationand provincial development coordinated with the People's Committee of Nghia Dan district to organize the launching ceremony of the integrated communication campaign to provide reproductive health care/family planning services and improve population quality in 2021.

Attending the launching ceremony were comrades: Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan - Deputy Director General of the General Department of Population (Ministry of Health); Vo Tien Sy - Deputy Secretary, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghia Dan district; Nguyen Huu Le - Deputy Director of the Department of Health, and a number of related departments, agencies and branches. Photo: MH

The campaign launch took place in the context of many changes in the provincial population sector in terms of organization and apparatus for population work at district and commune levels. Meanwhile, the province's population work still faces many difficulties and challenges: Large population size (ranked fourth in the country), high birth rate (2.75 children) and continuing to increase, the province has the second highest birth rate in the country (after Ha Tinh).

In particular, the ratiothird childand above is still high and tends to continue to increase in most districts, cities and towns; the gender imbalance at birth is at an alarming level; although population quality has been improved, it is still limited...

Deputy Director of the Department of Health Nguyen Huu Le beats the drum to launch the campaign. Photo: MH

In the current context, to effectively implement the work of Population and Development, service provision is considered one of the core elements and the central point of population work. This is also a peak occasion to focus on propaganda, mobilization, and support for the provision of reproductive health care and family planning services, contributing to the successful implementation of the planning targets on Population and Development.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, on behalf of the Provincial Steering Committee for Population and Development, Mr. Nguyen Huu Le - Deputy Director of the Department of Health once again affirmed the role of implementing campaign activities. Although the program only took place in a short time, it mobilized a large number of people to participate in response, contributing significantly to the localities completing the population plan targets for the year.

From the above meaning, the leaders of the Department of Health also requested that all levels and sectors need to continue to make more efforts, promote their roles and responsibilities together with the Health and Population sectors to successfully complete the planning targets on Population and Development assigned by the Central Government as well as the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council and Provincial People's Committee.

The Provincial Steering Committee for Population and Development presented gifts to hamlets and villages that have implemented population policies well in Nghia Dan district. Photo: MH

In particular, it is necessary to strengthen the organization of propaganda and mobilization activities, diversify the content and forms suitable for the Covid-19 epidemic and suitable for target groups. In particular, it is necessary to pay attention to people in remote, isolated, disadvantaged areas, densely populated areas with high birth rates, coastal areas, industrial zones and difficult-to-reach subjects.

In addition, it is necessary to actively coordinate and integrate the Campaign's propaganda into the activities of departments, branches and organizations; Communication combined with counseling and linked with the provision of family planning services, reproductive health care services in particular and health care in general.

Leaders of the General Department of Population and departments and branches learn about the service provision model in Nghia Binh commune - Nghia Dan district. Photo: MH

At the ceremony, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Population (Ministry of Health) Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan acknowledged and highly appreciated Nghe An's population work and this is a typical example of population work in the whole country. In particular, the outstanding work is the advisory work, knowing how to choose issues to prioritize to build models... Particularly at this time, although population work is affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, population provision activities are still effectively implemented.

From the above successes, the Deputy Director General of the General Department of Population hopes that the whole sector will promote achievements, overcome difficulties and challenges in digital work. In the immediate future, focus on the goal of reducing births and improving the quality of reproductive health care/family planning services.

Population policy consultation for people of Nghia Dan district at the launching ceremony. Photo: MH

According to the plan, this year's Campaign will be organized in all communes, wards and towns in the province and will be divided into 2 phases, ending before November 30, 2021. The Provincial People's Committee has also allocated a budget to support 21 districts, cities and towns to purchase medicine and deploy services, with priority given to special communes and disadvantaged areas.

On this occasion, the Provincial Steering Committee for Population and Development also presented 10 gifts to blocks and hamlets that have well implemented population policies in Nghia Dan district.