Hanoi observes World Population Day

More drastic, efficient measures should be done to better balance Hanoi’s sex ratio at birth and ensure gender equality, said a Health Ministry official.

More drastic, efficient measures should be done to better balance Hanoi’s sex ratio at birth and ensure gender equality, said a Health Ministry official.

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General Director of the ministry’s General Office for Population and Family Planning Duong Quoc Trong made the call at a meeting in Hanoi on July 7 in response to World Population Day themed “Investing in young people”.

Adolescents should receive better care, especially their well-being and employment, he said.

Last year, Hanoi recorded a sex ratio at birth of 114.5 boys to 100 girls, down 1.5 boys from 2012.

Over 7.7 percent of the capital’s population gave birth to the third child, down 0.88 percent year-on-year.

In January-June, nearly 51,500 children were born in the capital, down some 1,500 from last year’s same period. Over 3,800 were third-born children, a yearly decrease of 614.

Some areas, however, still see high numbers of third-born children and imbalance in birth gender.

This year’s World Population Day conveys the message that promoting healthy habits, ensuring education and employment opportunities, access to health services, and social security coverage for all workers is the best investment to improve the lives of future generations.