The Ministry of Health's request regarding proactive implementation of disease prevention and control activities in Vietnam

The Ministry of Health's request regarding proactive implementation of disease prevention and control activities in Vietnam (Internet image) 

On April 26, 2024, the Ministry of Health issued Official Dispatch 2197/BYT-DP regarding the proactive implementation of disease prevention and control activities in Vietnam

The Ministry of Health's request regarding proactive implementation of disease prevention and control activities in Vietnam

Specifically, to proactively carry out disease prevention and control work in Vietnam, especially during the holidays of April 30th Victory Day, May 1st International Workers' Day 2024, and the upcoming peak tourist season in 2024, when travel demand is high, the Ministry of Health respectfully requests that People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities continue to pay attention to and provide guidance on the following matters:

(1) Assign responsibility to People's Committees at all levels for comprehensive responsibility in disease prevention and control work in their respective areas; mobilize political and social organizations, departments, and agencies to coordinate with the health sector in effectively implementing disease prevention and control activities and expanding vaccination work. Establish and submit to the People's Council for approval a budget allocation for preventive health activities to proactively implement disease prevention and control activities. Allocate sufficient funds for the implementation of infectious disease prevention and control activities and expanded vaccination work from local budgets in accordance with the principle of "four on-the-spot" to ensure compliance with regulations.

(2) Direct the Department of Health to:

- Closely monitor the disease situation in the area, proactively detect suspected cases of disease from border checkpoints, within the community, and at healthcare facilities; closely coordinate with the Institute of Epidemiology and Pasteur Institute to analyze the situation and assess risks in order to propose and implement appropriate and timely disease prevention and control measures.

- Develop and implement specific preparedness plans to respond to disease outbreaks in the area during the holidays of April 30th Victory Day, May 1st International Workers' Day 2024, and the peak tourist season in 2024; establish permanent disease prevention and control teams at all levels; ensure the operation of mobile disease control and emergency response teams to be ready for investigation, verification, assessment, outbreak control, emergency treatment, and necessary support for lower-level units.

- Implement strong measures to prevent and control disease outbreaks, prevent the occurrence or spread of new outbreaks, especially for highly infectious diseases with high incidence and mortality rates.

+ Rabies: Ensure sufficient and enhanced access of the population to rabies vaccines and rabies immune serum, especially in high-risk areas; allocate at least one vaccination site in each district, and consider additional vaccination sites in large areas and difficult terrains; strengthen coordination with the agricultural sector to closely monitor cases of dog or cat bites suspected of rabies, provide guidance on vaccination, and timely handle outbreaks.

+ Dengue fever: Carry out a strong communication campaign on dengue fever prevention and control and activities in response to the 14th ASEAN Dengue Day (June 15, 2024); organize environmental sanitation campaigns and mosquito control (elimination of breeding sites) to prevent dengue fever; raise public awareness and encourage active participation in personal and community disease prevention measures, actively participate in cleaning up water containers, stagnant water areas, places with mosquitoes breeding, cover containers tightly, and release fish into ponds, as well as handle water storage containers properly. Identify high-risk areas and proactively carry out chemical spraying according to the regulations of the Ministry of Health.

+ Hand, foot, and mouth disease: closely monitor the disease situation, promptly detect and handle new outbreaks, and take samples for testing to determine the causative agent of the disease. Coordinate closely with the Department of Education and Training to guide educational institutions, especially kindergartens, preschools, and nurseries, on disease prevention and control measures such as ensuring cleanliness and ventilation in classrooms with adequate lighting; practicing good personal hygiene, regularly washing hands with soap and clean water; maintaining classroom hygiene, environmental sanitation, and food safety in collective kitchens; closely monitoring the health of students, promptly detecting suspected cases, and notifying healthcare facilities for timely coordination in handling.

+ Vaccine-preventable diseases (measles, chickenpox, whooping cough, etc.): Intensify the implementation of the 2024 vaccination plan, ensure regular vaccination for target groups under the Expanded Immunization Program; organize catch-up vaccinations for individuals who have not been fully vaccinated. Enhance surveillance, testing, and early detection of disease cases in the community and healthcare facilities; promptly handle new outbreaks thoroughly. Strengthen communication on disease prevention measures and encourage families to ensure that children receive complete and timely vaccinations according to the schedule.

- Carry out patient admission and treatment effectively, promptly provide emergency care to patients, minimize the transfer of severe cases and mortality, and implement good infection control to prevent cross-infection in healthcare facilities. Enhance protection for high-risk patients such as pregnant women, individuals with underlying diseases, elderly individuals, intensive care unit patients, cardiovascular patients, patients on dialysis, and surgical patients.

- Proactively coordinate the provision and update of information on the epidemic situation and preventive recommendations for the public. Develop documents, products, and communication messages on disease prevention and vaccination that are suitable for the customs, practices, and languages of each locality. Collaborate closely with media agencies, the press, and grassroots communication systems to advise and guide the public in implementing preventive measures, raising awareness, and changing behaviors to protect people's health.

- Organize training and capacity-building for healthcare professionals and related units in surveillance, detection, investigation of infectious diseases, pathogens, outbreak management, diagnostic guidance, treatment, emergency care, intensive care, and care for individuals with infectious diseases.

- Regularly review and ensure the logistics, budget, medicines, vaccines, biological products, supplies, chemicals, equipment, and human resources to meet the requirements of epidemic prevention and control based on the 4 on-site principles.

- Conduct inspections and monitoring of the implementation of epidemic prevention and control work, focusing on areas with reported cases, potential outbreak risks, and localities with poor management of vaccination targets and low vaccination rates. Simultaneously provide active guidance and support to lower-level units in epidemic prevention and control.

(3) Direct the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to strengthen proactive monitoring, early detection, and timely handling of animal diseases, especially avian influenza, rabies, anthrax, etc. Timely share information with the healthcare sector to implement measures to prevent cross-infection with humans. Ensure effective management of dog and cat populations and vaccination of livestock and poultry.

(4) Direct the Department of Education and Training to implement disease prevention and control activities in educational institutions, especially kindergartens, preschools, and nurseries. Carry out school-based health communication on disease prevention and vaccination. Implement good school health services, promptly identify suspected cases of infectious diseases, and notify healthcare facilities for timely coordination. Coordinate effective vaccination campaigns in educational institutions.

(5) Direct the Department of Information and Communications, media agencies, press, and grassroots communication systems to strengthen communication on disease prevention and control. Collaborate in providing recommendations and guidance to the public on personal disease prevention measures, vaccination, and behavior changes to improve health.

(6) Direct the Department of Finance to allocate a sufficient budget based on the 2024 epidemic prevention and control plan, proposed by the Provincial People's Committee, to expand epidemic prevention and control activities and vaccination. Prepare contingency funding in case of necessity.

More details can be found in Official Dispatch 2197/BYT-DP, issued on April 26, 2024.

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