Speaking at the meeting, VP Thinh spoke highly of the efforts made by the delegates in extending the network of ethnic midwives in remote and mountainous areas, as well as overcoming all difficulties to fulfil their jobs.
She asked the health sector to continue improving the organisation and capacity of the healthcare system.
Priority should be given to the development of a network of village midwives in mountainous and remote areas, as well as improving the standard of living for the midwives, she added.
Midwifery and midwifery practices play a crucial role in Vietnam's maternal and new-born health care system.
There are currently 2,755 ethnic midwives working at 8,185 disadvantaged villages across the country.
The ratio of pregnant ethnic women who have registered for maternal check-ups in communes rises significantly every year, leading to an increasing number of those women’s deliveries with assistance from midwives.
The old maternal tradition of ethnic groups such as delivering in forests far away from health facilities and without skilled attendants has been eliminated, contributing to reducing maternal and child mortality among ethnic people.
