Nghe An leverages the advantages of its 'golden population' structure.

Reaching a diverse audience

At the end of November, a media event was held aboutimproving the quality of the populationFor the people of Nghi Thinh commune (Nghi Loc district), the year began with a significant event. After many years of effort, the commune's officials and people received a Certificate of Commendation from the Provincial People's Committee for their outstanding achievement in reducing the rate of third and subsequent births by at least 50%.

Sharing more about the achievements, Ms. Vo Thanh Tien - a population officer in Nghi Thinh commune - said: Reducing the rate of third births is one of the first solutions, laying the groundwork for other goals such as reducing the gender imbalance at birth, effectively implementing reproductive health care/family planning, maintaining the replacement fertility rate; contributing to gradually stabilizing the population size, consolidating and promoting the model of small, prosperous, equal, progressive, happy and sustainable families, and improving the quality of the population.

2024 was a challenging year for the Population sector in Nghe An province in particular, due to many changes in the implementation of activities. However, through many efforts, programs and activities were still implemented on schedule for various target groups.

Specifically targeting young people and adolescents, the sector has organized numerous communication sessions on reproductive health care, as well as competitions like "Ringing the Golden Bell" and "Being a Girl to Shine" contests. With practical, relatable, and engaging content, these programs have received enthusiastic participation from a large number of students, youth union members, and young people. This also serves as a channel for them to share their concerns and difficulties, thereby laying the first foundations for reproductive health care and understanding the qualitative and psychological changes of school-age children.

Communication sessions on improving population quality and prenatal and newborn screening target women of childbearing age and women in rural and mountainous districts. Participating in these programs, women are provided with information about the importance and significance of prenatal and newborn screening, the optimal times for screening fetuses and newborns, with the goal of giving birth to and raising children who are healthy both physically and mentally.

Communication sessions for the elderly are organized in the form of a competition titled "Elderly People Living Happily and Healthily." This is truly a meaningful platform, helping the elderly to promote the spirit of "old age, shining examples" and equip themselves with more knowledge about health care to contribute to improving the quality of the population.

Solutions to improve the quality of the population

"Improving the quality of the population for rapid and sustainable national development" is the overarching goal of the Vietnam Population Strategy to 2030, which has been approved by the Prime Minister.

In Nghe An province, population work has consistently received attention from the provincial level down to the grassroots, with the involvement of all levels and sectors. As a result, communication and advocacy efforts have been maintained, strengthened, and innovated through various content and forms suitable for different target groups and regions, contributing to raising awareness and changing people's behavior in complying with population and family planning policies.

Furthermore, the reproductive health/family planning service system at all levels is basically provided fully and promptly, in a way that is accessible, convenient, and safe for the people. Through coordinated programs with various departments and agencies, population work is widely implemented to many target groups such as women, youth, students, the elderly, and workers in industrial zones.

However, alongside the achievements, Nghe An's population work is facing many difficulties and challenges as it is simultaneously undertaking two tasks: implementing family planning and improving the quality of the population.

Meanwhile, Nghe An remains a province with a large population (ranking 4th nationwide) and a high birth rate (among the top 10 provinces with the highest birth rates nationwide), with a high rate of third or subsequent births. Gender imbalance at birth and population aging are at alarming levels. The quality of the population does not yet match the province's potential. In particular, issues related to reproductive health care before marriage, for adolescents and young adults; healthcare for the elderly, mothers, and children still face many challenges; and the problem of malnutrition, stunting, and congenital defects in newborns remains a significant concern.

Based on the above reality, Mr. Hoang Dinh Tung - Head of the Population Department - stated: We must more clearly recognize the importance of effectively implementing current population work. This includes continuing to proactively and effectively implement Resolution No. 21, the spirit of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam on population work, and the Prime Minister's Vietnam Population Strategy to 2030, in order to achieve the goals and tasks set for population and development work.

In particular, it is necessary to effectively implement intervention solutions to improve the quality of the population; proactively adjust the population growth rate, control the rate of increase in the sex ratio at birth; and propose solutions to leverage the advantages of the "golden population" structure and respond to "population aging".

Furthermore, it is necessary to strengthen harmonious and effective coordination between families, schools, and society in disseminating and educating about pre-marital health care and adolescent and youth reproductive health for the sake of the future quality of the nation.

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Improving the quality of the population in the new context also presents many opportunities and challenges.

Therefore, it requires the joint efforts, unity, and consensus of all levels, sectors, and the entire society to contribute to the rapid and sustainable development of the country in the context of increasingly deep global integration.

Mr. Hoang Dinh Tung - Head of the Population Sub-Department

My Ha