Promoting the effectiveness of the apparatus for population and family planning work at the grassroots level

However, with the characteristics of a densely populated province, uneven population quality, and a high birth rate of the third child or more, the challenges for the population sector in the coming time are still very large. Nghe An Newspaper had an interview with specialist doctor II Nguyen Ba Tan - Head of the Provincial Department of Population/Family Planning about the key tasks of the sector in 2019.

The launching ceremony of the 2018 National Population Month in Yen Thanh district. Photo: My Ha.

PV: Doctor Nguyen Ba Tan, in 2018, a number of adjustments to population policy had a huge impact on population work. In addition, the fact that many people, even officials and party members, did not understand correctly and spread by word of mouth that the Party and State did not limit the number of children born to the third child or more has also greatly affected the effectiveness of propaganda and mobilization to implement population policy - family planning at the grassroots level. Looking back at 1 year of operation, can you share more about this?

Doctor Nguyen Ba Tan:Decision No. 11/2018/QD-UBND on amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Regulation issued together with Decision No. 43/2015/QD-UBND dated August 21, 2015 of the Provincial People's Committee took effect from February 25, 2018. In the first months of implementation, confusion arose at the grassroots level, especially in proposing forms of handling violations of population policies. In addition, population work still faces many difficulties because many families still prefer to have many children, wanting to have a son to continue the family line. Meanwhile, operating budgets under the health target program have been gradually reduced, and local resources are not enough to provide for population activities.

On a large scale, although the population work has shifted its focus from Population - Family Planning to Population and Development, Nghe An still has to carry out two tasks in parallel, the first of which is to strive to achieve replacement fertility. On the sector side, in 2018, there were many activities to promote communication and mobilization to contribute to raising awareness and changing people's behavior in implementing the population - family planning policy. The target audience for communication and provision of population - family planning services has also been expanded, focusing on women of high fertility age, adolescents, young people, the elderly...

Leaders of the General Department of Population and Family Planning, the Department of Health and the Department of Population and Family Planning visited the reproductive health counseling model for students in Yen Thanh district. Photo: My Ha

In particular, in 2018, the industry successfully organized a meeting to honor 30 exemplary Catholic families who effectively implemented population policies, creating a ripple effect among the general public.

With these efforts, it is expected that in 2018, the total number of children born in the province will decrease by nearly 5,000 compared to 2017. The crude birth rate is 16.15%0, down 0.3%0. The rate of implementing contraceptive measures is currently reaching nearly 100% of the plan.

PV:Nghe An is still facing many population challenges, such as the high birth rate, the gender imbalance rate has not returned to normal and the third birth rate in the whole province is still over 22% (5.3% higher than previous years). According to the doctor, what is the reason and to achieve the replacement birth rate as set out, what conditions do we need?

Doctor Nguyen Ba Tan:Compared to other localities, the starting point of Nghe An population work has many difficulties because of its large area, large population (ranked 4th in the country) and uneven population quality, with differences between regions. Indicators show that currently the third birth rate is high, mainly concentrated in coastal areas, special areas and areas with favorable economic conditions.

Meeting and praising Catholic families who have done well in population policy. Photo - Duc Anh

Achieving replacement fertility cannot be achieved overnight, but requires a process. First, we need to step up propaganda to raise people's awareness, so that people can see the effectiveness of the small family model. In addition, we need to strengthen the leadership and direction of Party committees and authorities at all levels, unify awareness and action, and consider population as a key task of all sectors and localities. At the same time, consolidate and expand population and family planning services to meet people's needs, especially in remote, isolated, and disadvantaged areas. Increase investment in population work, have more policies for special areas, areas with many children, and places where life is still difficult.

PV: In 2018, one of the most discussed issues of the Population sector was the project to merge population centers in districts, cities, and towns. Up to this point, how far has the merger plan been implemented and what will the Population sector "gain" and "lose" after the merger?

Doctor Nguyen Ba Tan:Implementing Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW 6th session (12th term), Nghe An Health sector has developed a Project to merge District Population Center and District Health Center; to date, the Project has been approved by the Provincial People's Committee. However, the process of developing the project encountered many difficulties because the name, functions, tasks, organizational structure, and job position structure were not yet available. Therefore, when developing the project, it was mainly based on the arithmetic addition method. Moreover, when referring to other provinces, many difficulties were also found in the process of developing the project.

Communication on population policy for people in the river area of ​​Hung Nguyen district. Photo: My Ha

Currently, the population work apparatus in Nghe An has been continuously built and improved for more than 10 years (since 2008) and is operating effectively. The whole province has 468 commune population officials (there are 12 communes and towns that do not have population officials); there are 21 district-level population and family planning centers operating very effectively. If the merger is carried out when the conditions are not met, the advantages and effective advice on population work will not be taken advantage of. Meanwhile, Nghe An is still a province with the 7th highest birth rate in the country, the third child or more is over 22%, the gender imbalance at birth is high (115/100); the population quality is at the lowest level in the country.

PV: Many opinions also say that currently, population work at the grassroots level has become systematic, with a team of collaborators and civil servants spread to every village and hamlet. Now, if the structure and management agency are changed, how will they operate and will it have a negative impact on the achievements that the population sector has strived for over the past many years? What is the doctor's opinion on this issue?

Doctor Nguyen Ba Tan:As mentioned, the role and effectiveness of the population staff at the commune and district levels are at their highest efficiency; the administration and management work is being carried out closely and systematically. If conditions do not allow us to merge, the management work will encounter many difficulties, and the quality and effectiveness of the work will not be high.

Marketing of contraceptives in Con Cuong district. Photo - My Ha

In my opinion, in the current period, streamlining the payroll is the most important, ensuring that by 2021, the payroll is reduced by 10% compared to 2016. At the same time, we will gradually pilot a number of models according to the new project, and only when it is deemed appropriate and effective will we proceed. In fact, over the past 30 years, the organizational structure of the health sector from the central to local levels has changed a lot, "merging" then "separating", "separating" then "merging" and up to now, the health sector apparatus from the district to provincial levels is still unstable.

PV:Thank you doctor!