DIEN BIEN (VNS)— Mothers and newborn babies in northern mountainous Dien Bien Province will gain access to higher quality of relevant health services with financial support from the Japanese government.
Local health workers and traditional birth attendants will attend training on maternal and newborn care in the province’s districts of Tuan Giao and Muong Cha as part of an agreement worth over US$455,000 in the “Improving Maternal and Newborn Health in Dien Bien Province” project phase 2. The two districts had high rates of poor households and demand for better health services.
Moreover, local mothers, pregnant women and caregivers who are mostly from ethnic minority groups will have a chance to learn to increase proper care for their infants at home.
The agreement was signed between the World Vision Japan and Embassy of Japan in Viet Nam yesterday.
Material facilities and equipment at local health centers also will be improved.
With 40 per cent of population living under the national poverty line, the province is the third poorest among 58 provinces in the country, according to official statistics.
Poor health services due to the deprivation are one of main causes for high deaths of women in pregnancy or childbirth, and their babies in the area. Up to 60 per cent of infant deaths are reported to be occurring within the neonatal period (28 days after birth) in Viet Nam, according to the United Nations Population Fund. The fact strongly proves that the care provided during this period is vital to ensure the child’s survival.
Meanwhile, the main causes of maternal deaths in Viet Nam are hemorrhage during delivery, preeclampsia, and infection. Continuous support and care from pregnancy throughout postpartum period is important for ensuring maternal health. — VNS
Đăng ký: VietNam News