Protection and care for children during Covid-19 pandemic

A Vietnamese minister has issued an official letter on strengthening protection and care for children during the Covid-19 pandemic

Testing for teachers and preschool children due to F1 association with Covid-19
 

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has sent a telgram to the chairmen of the People's Committees of the provinces and cities saying the Covid-19 pandemic is developing in complex fashion.

In some localities, many children have been infected with Covid-19 and been put in concentrated isolation to prevent and control the pandemic. At the same time, as summer comes the number of children having accidents and injuries, especially deaths from drowning, increases.

In order to implement the Prime Minister's direction on prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic and to ensure safety, the ministry proposes chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to strengthen direction, guidance and promptly implement policies and solutions.

Localities need to urgently implement Decision No. 623/QD-LDTBXH dated May 29 by the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs on supporting children infected with Covid-19.

Local resources, mobilizing agencies, organizations, businesses and individuals are to participate in providing financial support, essential supplies and enhancing nutrition for children under the motto: "Not a single child will fall into a difficult situation due to the Covid-19 pandemic without timely support and care."

In the telegram, Minister Dao Ngoc Dung asked the chairmen of the People's Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities to direct all levels, branches, agencies and functional units in their localities to implement protective measures to take care of children. The minister requested the safety, prevention and control of Covid-19, child abuse in families, communities, child care and nurturing facilities.
In addition, localities need to use local media, distribute to medical facilityies, concentrated isolation facility, social distancing, and use household the communication materials and products by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund. They must also notify the National Telephone Exchange for Child Protection of issues, cases and needs of children.

They must develop plans, coordinate and assign specific tasks to sectors, mass organizations, officials and volunteers to review households, lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, public works and construction works. This is to promptly detect drowning and other safety hazards, immediately take remedial measures, and prevent, remind and ensure a safe living environment for children.

Minister Dao Ngoc Dung also asked chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to strengthen facilities and improve the quality of swimming instructors. The minister requested helping families to take their children to learn swimming and safety skills.