The Hanoi Department of Health, in partnership with the Embassy of Ireland in Vietnam, launched World Health Day activities on March 18 and announced funding from the Irish government to scale up a pilot maternal and child care model.
The Irish Government's funding commitment aims to replicate the “Mother and Child Care Pilot Model” from Duc Giang General Hospital across Southeast Asian countries (Photo: Minh Nhat).
The programme, centred at Duc Giang General Hospital, is expected to be expanded to other countries in the region.
Irish representatives at the event reaffirmed their government’s commitment to supporting Vietnam in improving maternal and child healthcare, describing the partnership as an example of effective international cooperation.
Do Dinh Tung, director of Duc Giang General Hospital, said the facility is the first public hospital in Hanoi to be recognised as an “excellent breastfeeding practice hospital”.
The hospital has also partnered with the National Children’s Hospital to develop a satellite human milk bank, helping support premature and low-birthweight infants and improving early-life health outcomes.
Tung said being selected as a model for regional expansion was a significant honour, adding that support from Ireland and international organisations would help raise professional standards and share best practices more widely.
Delegates observe mother and baby care at the hospital (Photo: Minh Nhat).
Through the initiative, partners aim to develop Duc Giang General Hospital into a regional centre for training and knowledge-sharing in maternal and child healthcare.
Experts at the event noted that, despite progress, malnutrition remains a concern in parts of the region, particularly in Laos and Cambodia.
Exclusive breastfeeding rates have declined sharply in Cambodia, while undernutrition and anaemia among pregnant women are rising in Laos. In Vietnam, although breastfeeding rates have doubled over the past decade, anaemia among pregnant women has declined slowly and childhood overweight rates are increasing.
Tran Van Thuan, deputy health minister, said maternal and child healthcare remains one of the most effective long-term investments for any country.
He added that simple but impactful measures, such as safe maternity care, breastfeeding and essential newborn care, play a crucial role in building a healthier generation from the earliest stages of life.
