1. On November 22, 2019, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 1679/QĐ-TTg approving the Vietnam Population Strategy by 2030.
The document of great significance marks a shift in the focus of population undertakings, changing from family planning to population and development. The strategy specifies the plan for population development to fully, comprehensively and synchronously implement the perspectives, objectives, tasks and solutions set by Resolution No. 21-NQ/TƯ dated October 25, 2017 by the sixth conference of the 12th Party Central Committee on the population strategy in the new era.
2. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam addresses population strategies in the new era at the launching ceremony for the 2019 National Action Month on Population and the Vietnam Population Day 2019 with the theme "Accompanying the cause of population and development for a prosperous Vietnam."
At the launching on December 10, 2019, the Deputy PM affirmed that current population strategies are not simply focusing on family planning and ensuring the health of mothers, children and every citizen but are now much more inclusive. This is no longer the function of the Ministry of Health, but rather the work of the whole political system and the concerned authorities and people at all levels.
Deputy PM Dam emphasised that the most important task in the near future is to increase public awareness on the population strategy and to mobilise all resources in society to make use of Vietnam’s population benefits in the new era towards a high quality population.
At the ceremony, Dam also urged his listeners to pay special attention to strengthening training and development for population collaborators to make them a core force not only in family planning but also in other the fields related to population, such as dissemination of knowledge regarding child rearing, child protection, and caring for the elderly, etc.
3. Vietnam observes World Contraception Day 2019
World Contraception Day, takes place on September 26th annually, is a global campaign arousing the responsibility of young people to engage in safe sex and proactive contraception, while encouraging everyone to be proactive during pregnancy for the interests of oneself and the community.
The meaningful and profound event in Vietnam saw the participation of over 500 participants, where they were offered practical information on family planning and the vital need to use contraception in Vietnam, as well as the benefits of contraception.
4. The Ministry of Health issued Circular No. 30/2019/TT-BYT dated December 3, 2019, on amending and supplementing a number of articles under its Circular No. 34/2017/TT-BYT on August 18, 2017, on the guidance of prenatal and neonatal counselling, screening, diagnosis and treatment.
The important legal document guides prenatal and neonatal counselling, screening, diagnosis and treatment towards realising goals set in the Population Strategy by 2030: 70% of pregnant women will be able to receive screening on at least the four most common types of congenital diseases and 90% of new-borns are screened for at least five most common congenital diseases.
5. The Minister of Health approved a plan to consolidate the population specialised inspection system and to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the population specialised inspection by 2025 (Decision No. 5745/QĐ-BYT dated December 10, 2019).
The plan targets to consolidate the population specialised inspection system and raise the effectiveness and efficiency of the work by 2025. It is considered a key document for the population inspection.
