The improvement of population qualityis one of the major tasks set out in Vietnam’s Population Strategythrough 2020, demographer Duong Quoc Trong said at a press conferencein Hanoi, on August 20.
According to Trong, Acting GeneralDirector of the General Department of Population and Family Planning,population quality issues are essential to developing human resourcesfor the course of national modernisation and industrialisation.Although the country has succeeded in reducing the number of new birthsand curbing population growth, the quality of Vietnam ’s population hasnot stabilized.
According to the statistics by the General Department, the rate ofmental and physical insufficiency in the population is 1.5 percent. Thenumber of children suffering congenital deformities accounts for from1.5 to 3 percent, and the figure is showing signs of increase.Meanwhile, 6.3 percent of the population is categorized as disabled.
The average lifespan of Vietnamese surged to 72.2 years in 2005, from68.5 years in 2000. However, when it comes to the average age untilwhich the population maintains ‘good health,’ Vietnam still ranks 116among 174 countries and territories in the world, at 60.2 years old.
The physical strength of Vietnamese remains a limitation as comparedwith other regional countries—the population still lags in terms ofheight, weight and physical endurance. The rate of malnutrition forchildren under five is still high in remote areas.
Trong said that in the coming time, it is necessary to carry outsimultaneously measures, including research and testing on the earlytreatment of diseases related to congenital malformation, andpre-marriage health check-ups.
Further efforts should be made to prevent epidemics, cut the newinfection rates of some dangerous diseases, implement reproductivehealth care including expanded vaccinations, support the introductionof iodized salt, and ensure clean water and a hygienic environment forethnic minority people.
In a bid to improve the population quality, the Central ObstetricsHospital has deployed a programme on prenatal screening in 12 northernprovinces to cut the rate of children with congenital deformities tobelow 1.5 percent by 2020./.
According to Trong, Acting GeneralDirector of the General Department of Population and Family Planning,population quality issues are essential to developing human resourcesfor the course of national modernisation and industrialisation.Although the country has succeeded in reducing the number of new birthsand curbing population growth, the quality of Vietnam ’s population hasnot stabilized.
According to the statistics by the General Department, the rate ofmental and physical insufficiency in the population is 1.5 percent. Thenumber of children suffering congenital deformities accounts for from1.5 to 3 percent, and the figure is showing signs of increase.Meanwhile, 6.3 percent of the population is categorized as disabled.
The average lifespan of Vietnamese surged to 72.2 years in 2005, from68.5 years in 2000. However, when it comes to the average age untilwhich the population maintains ‘good health,’ Vietnam still ranks 116among 174 countries and territories in the world, at 60.2 years old.
The physical strength of Vietnamese remains a limitation as comparedwith other regional countries—the population still lags in terms ofheight, weight and physical endurance. The rate of malnutrition forchildren under five is still high in remote areas.
Trong said that in the coming time, it is necessary to carry outsimultaneously measures, including research and testing on the earlytreatment of diseases related to congenital malformation, andpre-marriage health check-ups.
Further efforts should be made to prevent epidemics, cut the newinfection rates of some dangerous diseases, implement reproductivehealth care including expanded vaccinations, support the introductionof iodized salt, and ensure clean water and a hygienic environment forethnic minority people.
In a bid to improve the population quality, the Central ObstetricsHospital has deployed a programme on prenatal screening in 12 northernprovinces to cut the rate of children with congenital deformities tobelow 1.5 percent by 2020./.
