The Medicine Cabinet for Children project has been launched to provide medical support for children in underserved areas, including highland regions and ethnic minority communities. Dr. Mai Xuan Phuong highlighted the challenges faced by these areas, such as underdeveloped socio-economic conditions, cultural practices, and poor infrastructure that limit access to healthcare services.
According to the United Nations estimates for 2021, Vietnam has a high mortality rate for children under 5, with 19 deaths per 1,000 children. This is significantly higher compared to countries like Thailand and developed nations. Dr. Phuong identified a lack of medical staff, facilities, equipment, and sterile conditions as barriers to accessing healthcare services, leading families to seek traditional healers for treatment.
Ms. Nguyen Thu Thao emphasized the low proportion of students receiving primary healthcare at school, with only 25% having access to basic medical care. The project aims to address this issue by providing essential medicines and medical equipment to schools, including guidance documents on common diseases and medication usage.
The initial phase of the project began in Ha Giang Province, where 20 medicine cabinets were placed in schools. Plans are in place to expand the project to other provinces, with over 200 schools already registered for medicine cabinets. The goal is to bring 300 cabinets to schools this year and increase the number to 700 in the coming year to ensure children have access to essential healthcare services in their communities.
The Medicine Cabinet for Children project is an initiative aimed at addressing health disparities among children living in underserved areas across Vietnam. By providing access