Some Measures for the Prevention of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Schools in Vietnam

Some Measures for the Prevention of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Schools in Vietnam

On August 29, 2024, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Official Dispatch 4858/BGDDT-GDTC in 2024 on strengthening the prevention and control of diseases in schools.

To proactively implement disease prevention measures and control the risk of contracting and spreading diseases, including hand, foot, and mouth disease, the Ministry of Education and Training has directed several preventive measures against hand, foot, and mouth disease in schools as follows:

- Promote the dissemination of disease prevention guidelines to education administrators, teachers, and staff in educational institutions through appropriate methods to protect the health of preschool children and students.

- Regularly update information on the disease situation and strictly implement disease prevention and control requirements such as:

+ Ensure a clean, airy, and adequately lit classroom environment;

+ Maintain good personal hygiene, wash hands with soap and clean water, etc.

- Proactively coordinate closely with the Department of Health and local authorities to direct disease prevention and control measures;

- Regularly monitor the health of preschool children and students to promptly detect suspected cases and inform local health facilities for coordinated handling to prevent the disease from spreading in schools;

- Prepare the best conditions to ensure the safety of children and students for the new school year 2024-2025.

Some Measures for the Prevention of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Schools in Vietnam (Image from the internet)

What are the required conditions for the medical room and medical staff in schools in Vietnam?

Based on Article 8 Joint Circular 13/2016/TTLT-BYT-BGDDT, schools must ensure the following conditions for medical rooms and medical staff:

School Medical Room

- Schools must have a separate medical room with adequate space, conveniently located for first aid and health care of students;

- Medical rooms in primary schools, lower secondary schools, upper secondary schools, multi-grade schools, and specialized schools must be equipped with at least one examination bed and patient bed, work table, chairs, cabinets for tools, ordinary working equipment, scales, rulers, sphygmomanometers, thermometers, vision boards, leg and arm splints, and some essential medicines for first aid and health care of students.

- Preschools need to have specialized equipment and essential medicines suitable for the age group;

- There must be a medical examination logbook according to form A1/YTCS specified in Circular 27/2014/TT-BYT; student health logs and general health monitoring logs for students.

School Medical Staff

- School medical staff must have professional qualifications of at least a secondary medical practitioner or higher. Based on local practical conditions, schools arrange their medical staff to meet the regulations at this point or sign contracts with commune health stations or health facilities of polyclinic level or higher to care for students' health;

- School medical staff must regularly update their medical professional knowledge through workshops, training, and professional development organized by the Health and Education sectors to effectively carry out the assigned tasks;

- School medical staff have the duty to advise, organize the implementation according to regulations, and other tasks assigned by school leadership.

What are funding sources for school health work in Vietnam?

Based on Clause 1, Article 3 Joint Circular 13/2016/TTLT-BYT-BGDDT:

Implementation Funding

1. The funding for school health work includes:

a) Annual health, education, and training budget funds according to the current budget allocation of the units;

b) Student health insurance funds as prescribed by current regulations;

c) Sponsorships, support from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals according to the provisions of law and other legal revenues.

2. The funding for school health work must be used for the right purposes and policies according to current State regulations.

3. The preparation, implementation, and settlement of the budget for school health work must comply with current regulations.

Thus, the funding sources for school health work include:

- Annual health, education, and training budget funds according to the current budget allocation of the units;

- Student health insurance funds as prescribed by current regulations;

- Sponsorships and support from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals according to the provisions of law and other legal revenues.