Minister Tien made the remark at the third forum of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) that was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from June 30–July 1.
Vietnam cut under-five mortality by 60% between 1990 and 2012, to 23.2 per 1,000 live births. At the same time maternal mortality was cut by 70% from 233 to 69 per 100,000 live births—saving of 70,000 lives.
The country increased coverage of births attended by trained health workers from 77% in 1997 to 98% in 2012, and stunting prevalence dropped from almost 40% in 1999 to 25.9% in 2013.
Delegates to the event appreciated Vietnam’s outcomes in the work; many of them expressed their hope to co-operate with Vietnam in the field in a joint effort to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
On the sideline of the forum, the Vietnamese minister met with her South African counterpart and representatives of health leaders from African countries to foster co-operation in the field.
The forum, which was co-sponsored by the South African Government, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), attracted the participation of over 1,000 delegates including 27 health ministers.
The event was intended to review achievements and promote joint commitments between member countries to improve healthcare for mothers and children, particularly infants, contributing to the implementation of the MDGs.
Speaking at the opening, PMNCH Chair Grace Machel called on countries to place further priority on bettering healthcare for women and children and making it a key part of their agenda for development after 2015, when the UN members and many international organisations are expected to complete eight MDGs.
She noted that, despite improvements, 289,000 women around the world still die every year from complications at birth. Another 6.6 million children do not live to see their fifth birthday, including 2.6 million newborns, she added.
Participants at the forum shared experience and discussed solutions to help countries making slow progress and on poor and marginalised populations, including newborns and adolescents.
They also approved the Countdown to 2015 Report on women and child care, and the Every Newborn Action Plan, which details a roadmap to foster the work.
Many government officials and social organisations attending the event affirmed their support for the Every Woman Every Child movement, which was spearheaded by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
