Circular No. 02/2003/TT-BYT guiding the implementation of the Program on coordinated activities to promote health care and protection for the people in the movement "All people unite to build a civilized lifestyle".

CIRCULAR OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Guidelines for Implementing the Coordinated Program

 Activities to Promote Health Care and Protection for the People in the Movement

"All People United to Build a Civilized Cultural Life"

Pursuant to Resolution No. 5 of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (Term VIII) on Building and Developing a Progressive Vietnamese Culture with National Characteristics and Decision No. 730/2002/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister dated August 30, 2002 on the establishment of the Steering Committee for the Campaign "All People United to Build a Civilized Cultural Life," on January 23, 2003, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Culture and Information, and the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee signed the Coordinated Program of Activities to Promote the Movement for Health Care and Protection for the People in the Campaign "All People United to Build a Civilized Cultural Life" (hereinafter referred to as the Coordinated Program of Activities). The Ministry of Health provides guidelines for implementing the Coordinated Program of Activities as follows:

I. CONTENTS OF IMPLEMENTATION

1. Strengthen activities to disseminate information and propaganda about the purpose, significance, and practical social benefits of health care and protection for the people, the movement "All People United to Build a Civilized Cultural Life," and mobilize all strata of the population to participate in these activities.

2. Coordinate with the Department of Culture and Information and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee to direct the implementation of health criteria for Civilized Families, Civilized Villages, Civilized Neighborhoods, and Advanced Communities.

3. Launch the movement "All People Implementing Sanitary Habits to Prevent Diseases and Maintain Health in the Community" and coordinate with the Department of Culture and Information and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee to build models of Civilized Families, Civilized Villages, Civilized Neighborhoods, and Advanced Communities that meet health criteria (hereinafter referred to as health criteria).

4. Mobilize the people to actively participate in disease prevention work, HIV/AIDS prevention, environmental health, food safety, and promote activities to implement national health programs throughout the country.

5. Organize knowledge contests on health and coordinate with the Department of Culture and Information and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee to organize mass cultural and artistic activities on topics related to health care and protection for the people.

6. Coordinate with the Department of Culture and Information and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee to develop annual plans, guide, urge, and inspect the integration and implementation of health criteria during the process of building Civilized Families, Civilized Villages, Civilized Neighborhoods, and Advanced Communities.

II. IMPLEMENTATION

2.1. Organization:

a. Establish a Steering Committee for Implementing the Coordinated Program of Activities to Promote Health Care and Protection for the People in the Movement "All People United to Build a Civilized Cultural Life" (hereinafter referred to as the Steering Committee) of the Ministry of Health, headed by a Deputy Minister, with members being representatives from the Departments, Bureaus, and functional units of the Ministry of Health. The Steering Committee is responsible for directing units within the health sector to organize and implement activities and serve as the coordinating link with the Ministry of Culture and Information and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee.

b. Health authorities at all levels shall carry out necessary procedures to have representatives from the health sector become members of the Steering Committees for the Movement "All People United to Build a Civilized Cultural Life" at various levels.

c. Establish Steering Committees of the health sector at provincial and district levels to implement the Coordinated Program of Activities to Promote Health Care and Protection for the People in the Movement "All People United to Build a Civilized Cultural Life" to direct the implementation of activities at the local level and coordinate with the Department of Culture and Information and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at the same level.

2.2. Inter-sectoral Coordination and Vertical Guidance:

a. The Steering Committee of the Ministry of Health shall coordinate with the Ministry of Culture and Information and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee to provide unified guidance on inter-sectoral coordination at all levels.

b. Localities shall proactively develop annual action plans to coordinate with the Department of Culture and Information and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at the same level regarding the implementation of activities to promote health care and protection for the people in the Movement "All People United to Build a Civilized Cultural Life" and the construction, examination, and recognition of models of Civilized Families, Civilized Villages, Civilized Neighborhoods, and Advanced Communities that meet health criteria as stipulated in the appendices of this Circular.

2.3. Responsibilities of Health Authorities at All Levels:

a. Central and regional institutes under the preventive health system, hospitals, and institutes with beds directly under the Ministry of Health shall be responsible for:

Proactively developing annual activity plans and budgets to implement the contents of the Coordinated Program of Activities.

Directing, guiding, and coordinating with local health agencies to organize evaluations of the situation and implementation of activities related to disease prevention, environmental hygiene, food safety, community safety, etc., to serve as a basis for localities to develop plans and implement activities.

Conducting research to find appropriate measures to promote the movement and mobilize broad participation from all strata of the population.

Providing professional guidance and developing training and propaganda materials on disease prevention, environmental hygiene, food safety, community safety, etc.

Conducting inspections, monitoring, and evaluating local activities and reporting results to the Steering Committee of the Ministry of Health.

b. Provincial Health Departments (hereinafter referred to as Provincial Health Departments) shall be responsible for:

The Director of the Provincial Health Department shall decide to establish a provincial Steering Committee headed by a leader of the Provincial Health Department, with members being representatives from health units in the province. The Steering Committee shall be responsible for developing annual activity plans and budgets and plans to coordinate with the Department of Culture and Information and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee at the same level.

Directing and guiding health units in the province to implement specific activities to promote health care and protection for the people.

Directly organize and instruct health units within the province to coordinate in implementing, inspecting, supervising, and evaluating activities at the local level and model cultural family, village, street, and advanced community health criteria, and draw lessons from their operations.

Direct the signing of commitments between provincial-level Steering Committees and between commune health stations and families regarding the implementation of health indicators based on the criteria specified in the appendices of this Circular.

Direct other provincial-level health units (Preventive Health Center, Health Communication and Education Center, Social Disease Prevention Center, Maternal and Child Health and Family Planning Center, and related units) to develop guidance materials and conduct communication and community education activities within their respective fields of expertise.

Conduct inspections, supervision, evaluation of local activities, and report results to the Ministry of Health's Steering Committee.

Organize annual reviews and commend localities that effectively implement activities.

c. District, county, town, and city directly under the province Health Centers (hereinafter referred to as County Health Centers) shall be responsible for:

The Director of the County Health Center decides to establish a district-level Steering Committee headed by a leader of the County Health Center, with members being key staff from departments and divisions within the County Health Center. The Steering Committee is responsible for developing the unit's annual activity plans and budgets, and coordinating plans with the Culture and Information Department and the People's Committee for Mass Mobilization at the same level.

Proactively seek methods to organize and implement activities suitable to the actual conditions at the locality to achieve high results. Regularly report activity outcomes, difficulties, and issues to higher-level authorities.

Inspect, monitor, and supervise activities at the grassroots level and report to the higher-level Steering Committee.

Organize annual reviews within the health sector, commend, and recommend higher-level health authorities to commend individuals and units that effectively implement activities.

Coordinate with the Culture and Information Department and the People's Committee for Mass Mobilization at the county level to organize annual review meetings on the implementation of coordinated activities.

Annually, the county Steering Committee coordinates with commune health stations to assess families, villages, streets, and communities meeting health criteria as stipulated in the appendices of this Circular. Based on these assessment results, the County Health Center examines and awards certificates for Healthy Families, Healthy Villages, Healthy Streets, and Healthy Communities to those meeting health criteria. For families, villages, streets, and communities already certified, re-assessments and re-certifications are conducted every two years.

d. Commune, ward, and town health stations (hereinafter referred to as Commune Health Stations) shall be responsible for:

The Head of the Commune Health Station is responsible for directing the implementation of guidance from the county-level Steering Committee.

Report to the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune to secure support from the government and coordinate with the Culture and Information Office and the People's Committee for Mass Mobilization at the commune level to implement activities locally.

Inspect, monitor, and supervise activities at the grassroots level and report to the county-level Steering Committee.

Organize annual reviews, commend, and recommend higher-level health authorities to commend individuals and units that effectively implement activities.

III. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

1. This Circular shall take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

2. During implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, units and localities shall promptly report to the Ministry of Health (Preventive Health Department - Secretariat of the Steering Committee) for research and resolution.