Illustrative image (Photo:VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s population has remained stable and yet to surpass 92 million people, heard a conference held on January 14 reviewing last year’s outcomes related to population and family planning.
According to Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Viet Tien, in 2015, the population grew at a rate of approximately 1 percent, with 2.1 children born per woman. The lower birth rate has contributed to limiting maternal and infant mortality rates.
However, the ratio of boys to girls is 113:100, representing a gender imbalance.
The Deputy Minister pointed to obstacles facing the population/family planning sector, including slashed public funding and ineffective provincial agencies.
He recommended the sector to complete relevant legal documents and improve its mechanism and staff quality.
Communication programmes in remote and mountainous areas to curb early marriages and marriages among relatives are also a priority, he said.
In 2016, the sector plans to sustain its 2015 achievements and improve the population quality by expanding screening programmes for inherited diseases.-VNA
