DECISION

ON APPROVING “NATIONAL STRATEGY ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE FOR THE 2001-2010 PERIOD”

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Government Organization Law o­n 30^th September 1992;
Pursuant to the Health Protection Law o­n 30^th July 1989;
At the proposal of the Minister of Health,

DECIDES:

Article 1.

Approve "The National strategy o­n reproductive health care for the 2001-2010 period" including key content issues as follows:

1. Goal and objectives o­n Reproductive Health Care

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To achieve by the year 2010 a marked improvement in the RH status and narrow the gap between the regions and target groups by better meeting the changing reproductive health needs over the life cycle, and to do so in ways that are sensitive to the diverse circumstances of local communities, with particular attention to disadvantaged areas and target-groups.

b. Objectives

- To create a remarkable change in perception, as well as support and commitment, to the attainment of the objectives and elements of RHC among people of all strata, first of all among senior officials at all levels.

- To sustain the fertility reduction trend; to ensure the rights of women and couples to have children and select contraceptive methods of good quality; to reduce unwanted pregnancies and abortion related complications.

- To improve the health status of women and mothers; to obtain a more even reduction in maternal mortality and morbidity, perinatal deaths and infant mortality among different regions and target-groups, with special attention to disadvantaged areas and to beneficiaries of government policies.

- Effective prevention to reduce incidences, and proper treatment of Rites and STDs, including HIV and infertility related problems.

- To provide better RHC to the elderly, particularly to older women; to provide early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and other cancers of both male and female reproductive tracts.

- To improve the RH status, including sexual health, of adolescents through education, counseling and provision of RHC services suited to different age groups.

- To improve the knowledge of men and women about sexual relations and sexuality to fully exercise their rights and responsibilities towards fertility; to promote safe and responsible sexual relations o­n the basis of equality and mutual respect to improve RH and the quality of life.

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a. Strengthening Information, Education, Communication

To make full and effective use of the comprehensive range of communication channels and other IEC forms, promote universal access to all individuals to improve their knowledge, perception, awareness and commitment to implement the objectives and content of the RH Care.

b. Strengthening organisation and human resource development for RHC service delivery network

Based o­n the 7 elements of RH, reinforce and clarify functions, responsibilities, coordination mechanism among health facilities, MCH/FP facilities both public and private, integrate with other programs such as Population and Family Planning, Protection and Care of Children, Nutrition, HIV/AIDS prevention. In addition to strengthening the organisation of the RHC network, there will be a provision of (refresher) training to its personnel and supply of equipment to ensure the quality of techniques in RH diagnosis, prevention, emergency services, treatment, and also communication equipment, transport of patients in emergency, IEC materials etc.

c. Refining policies and laws in support to the Strategy

Develop policies and promulgate legal documents o­n promoting small-sized families, gender equality, encouraging the use of modern contraceptive methods, encouraging health personnel to further training and capacity building, motivating skilled health workers to work at the basic level of care, remote and rural areas. Develop and promulgate legal documents o­n in-vitro fertilization, paid childbearing, sex transformation etc.

d. Socialization, inter-sectoral and international co-operation

Mobilise people, the whole society, ministries, committees, mass organisations including private health sector to carry out RHC activities. Diversify modalities in providing RH counseling and services for different groups. Bilateral and multi-lateral co-operation with different countries, and international organisations and NGOs in RH should be expanded and improved in term of effectiveness.

e. Training and Research

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f. Budget inputs for RH care

Budget for the RHC shall come from the State budget, health insurance, hospital and service fees, funds from bilateral and multilateral co-operation, NGOs and community contributions, in which Government input is the main source, and will be allocated as a budget line at all levels of the health care network, which will be used for personnel, training, IEC, research and application of advanced technology, partially used for infrastructure and equipment, management, coordination and support for ministries and committees in RH activities. The state input should be planned, as the Ministry of Finance will balance the inputs, allocate a separate budget line in the annual state work plan.

g. Leadership and Management

Strengthening the management and co-ordination of reproductive health care activities, including developing and reinforcing the Health Management Information System and information system o­n RH Care.

3. Organization for implementation

The RHC strategy will be implemented through specific programs grouped in 2 phases:

a. Phase 1 (2001-2005)

- Maintain IEC and advocacy activities and the provision of existing services, establishing and maintaining a favorable environment for RHC activities.

- Amend and/or supplement policies and regulation, training materials and documents regulating and guiding the provision of services; execute the strategy for human resource development; strengthen the systems for professional management and monitoring as well as financial and resource management.

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- Build a mechanism for coordination among partners in carrying out RHC activities at all levels.

- Build-up an information system based o­n gender and RH indicators that have been selected for monitoring and evaluation.

- Select field studies o­n some priority RHC subjects; build successful models for nation-wide replication.

- Increase activities to meet the needs of adolescent RHC health and mobilize men's participation in RH.

- Promote the supply of information and services to remote areas and areas inhabited by ethnic groups.

b. Phase 2 (2006 – 2010)

- Carry o­n activities which were started in phase 1.

- Focus o­n identifying impact indicators in a more comprehensive manner alongside monitoring indicators to meet the requirements for higher quality of care.

- Promote the provision of sufficient RHC services in a broad sense at all levels.

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- Carry o­n training activities, research, inspection, evaluation and quality IEC activities to continuously improve provider's knowledge and skills.

- Throughout the process of implementing the strategy, it is important to focus o­n capacity building, along with most effective resource investment, to ensure the sustainability of the National Reproductive Health Care Strategy.

Article 2

The Ministry of Health, as the implementation agency, shall be responsible for coordinating with concerned agencies, to develop the implementation plan, and to monitor, supervise and report the implementation progress annually to the Prime Minister; and for organizing a mid - term review in the middle of 2005 and the final evaluation of the implementation progress in 2010.

Article 3

This Decision takes effect 15 days after its signing.

Article 4

The ministers, heads of ministry-rank agencies, heads of governmental agencies, and presidents of provincial people's committees are responsible for executing this decision.

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PRIME MINISTER




Phan Van Khai