The supplies include soap bars, hand sanitizers and ceramic water filters that will be available in schools, commune health centres and communities in 7 provinces, including Soc Trang, Ben Tre, Ninh Thuan, Lao Cai, Dien Bien, Gia Lai, and Kon Tum.
“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread worldwide, the hand washing practices that are now well established in Vietnam must continue while we remain vigilant to fight the spread of this and any disease that threatens the health and wellbeing of children,” said Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam.
UNICEF has been responding to the COVID-19 pandemic since the beginning of the crisis, focusing on prevention messages and community engagement – benefiting from the support of well-known celebrities in an effort to reach every child – including in ethnic languages and reaching those with disability; ensuring the provision of critical medical and water sanitation and hygiene supplies; and maintaining support for continued access to essential healthcare, nutrition, education, social and child protection services for the most vulnerable women and children.
The supplies are accompanied by information materials about proper handwashing and hygiene practices to help people, especially children, to stay safe.
The crisis in the Mekong Delta provinces is compounded by the drought and saltwater intrusion issues that have been challenging the region since 2019.
