Ministry of Health of Vietnam to request the promotion of prevention and control of summer diseases in 2024

Ministry of Health of Vietnam to request the promotion of prevention and control of summer diseases in 2024 (Image from the internet)

On July 9, 2024, the Minister of Health of Vietnam issued Official Telegram 840/CD-BYT on strengthening epidemic prevention and control for the summer of 2024.

Ministry of Health of Vietnam to request the promotion of prevention and control of summer diseases in 2024

To proactively implement epidemic prevention and control for the summer of 2024, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam respectfully requests the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally affiliated cities to direct and organize the following:

(1) Direct local authorities and mobilize departments, sectors, political - social organizations to coordinate closely with the health sector to proactively implement epidemic prevention and control solutions, especially for infectious diseases that often occur during the summer period; direct the organization of inspection teams, supervision, urging localities, and units regarding epidemic prevention and control.

(2) Direct the Department of Health and healthcare units in the area to:

- Strengthen supervision, early detection of disease cases, epidemic outbreaks in the community and medical facilities; isolate and promptly handle epidemic hotspots to prevent outbreaks in the community; increase sampling for testing to identify disease agents; closely coordinate with Epidemiology Institutes, Pasteur Institutes to proactively assess risks, analyze the situation to promptly implement measures to handle outbreaks and organize vaccination campaigns.

- Promote regular vaccinations for subjects under the Extended Immunization Program to ensure safety and effectiveness; review and organize supplementary vaccinations for individuals who have not been vaccinated or have not received enough vaccine doses; encourage families to bring children for full and timely vaccinations and promote vaccination for pregnant women.

- Ensure proper organization of admission, isolation, active treatment to minimize severe complications and death; strictly implement personal protection measures, infection control measures, and prevention of cross-infection in medical facilities and promptly provide complete information on infection prevention measures to patients and their caregivers.

- Boost health education communication, organize campaigns on personal hygiene and living environment hygiene, and publicize summer epidemic prevention measures such as ensuring food safety, eating cooked food, drinking boiled water; launching school hygiene campaigns, handwashing with soap; organizing campaigns to eliminate larvae, remove waste items that collect water with the message “spend 10 minutes each week to eliminate larvae” at households; ventilate homes and workplaces, and seek immediate medical attention when suspecting illness..., develop communication products and messages on preventive measures suitable to local customs, languages, and organize through various forms such as community meetings, group training, leaflets, loudspeakers, radios, newspapers, and television.

- Review and ensure readiness of logistics, medicines, and medical equipment to meet epidemic prevention and control requirements under the principle of 4 on the spot. Organize training and capacity building in monitoring, detecting, investigating disease cases, pathogens, handling epidemic hotspots, and guide diagnosis, treatment, emergency care, intensive care, and patient care.

(3) Direct the Department of Information and Communications, media and press agencies, grassroots communication systems, and related units to closely coordinate with the health sector in updating information on epidemic situations and preventive recommendations for the public.

(4) Direct the Department of Education and Training to cooperate with the health sector to guide and organize epidemic prevention and control activities in educational institutions, especially kindergartens, nursery schools, and daycare centers; properly implement school health communication on epidemic prevention, vaccination, and school health work to promptly detect and handle suspected disease cases.

(5) Continue to direct the strengthening of coordination between the health sector, the agricultural sector, and local authorities at all levels to implement rabies prevention solutions and animal-to-human disease prevention.

More details can be found in Official Telegram 840/CD-BYT issued on July 9, 2024.

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