Tackling the gender imbalance among the country\'s population was a contentious discussed at an international conference in Hanoi.
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| Too many boys |
A recent report from the Ministry of Health showed that the highest imbalance of gender ratio exists among wealthy families, with 112.9 boys born for every 100 girls. Meanwhile, the imbalance among the poorest groups, who make up 20% of country’s population, is about 105.2 boys/100 girls.
The report was released by Deputy Head of the General Department for Population and Family Planning, Nguyen Van Tan, at the opening ceremony of a two-day seminar entitled, “Gender imbalance at birth: solutions for the future”, which was held on October 5 and 6 by the Ministry of Health and the United Nations Population Fund (UNPA).
Tan said that Vietnam has started to experience the sex ratio imbalance later than other countries in the region, but the problem is developing at faster pace, especially with the arrival of new gender selection technologies.
“Wealthier families have more access to gender selection technologies,” he said. “So the imbalance ratio at this group is always the highest.”
Addressing the seminar, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan also expressed special concern when the problem is getting more serious.
In 1979, the gender ratio at birth was 105 boys to 100 girls. In 2010 the ratio was 111 boys per 100 girls. This figure is forecast to climb to 115 boys to 100 girls by 2020.
Nhan stressed that controlling the imbalance would take a concerted political effort. He also identified 10 regions where the ratio imbalance was at the highest, including the Mekong Delta, Hai Duong, Hung Yen and Haiphong.
He also expressed the hope that Vietnam could learn from other countries\' mistakes, and develop a policy that encourages an effective healthcare and social welfare system, which would bring about a more natural and sustainable gender ratio.
Tan also called for submissions from participants of the seminar for any ideas which could improve the project of the department and the Ministry of Health to even out the imbalance.
