Directive No. 21/1999/CT-TTg On Strengthening Activities to Achieve the Goal of Eradicating Polio, Eliminating Neonatal Tetanus, and Controlling Measles by 2000

DIRECTIVE

On Promoting Activities to Ensure the Achievement of the Polio Eradication, Neonatal Tetanus Elimination, and Measles Control Targets for the Year 2000

thực hiện mục tiêu thanh toán bại liệt, loại trừ uốn ván sơ sinh và khống chế bệnh sởi vào năm 2000

sơ sinh và khống chế bệnh sởi vào năm 2000

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Since 1985, the National Expanded Immunization Program has been continuously implemented nationwide. At all levels, People's Committees have closely directed, while ministries, sectors, and social organizations have cooperatively and actively participated. With timely and effective support from governments of other countries and international organizations, and the enthusiastic response from a large number of mothers and people across the country, significant achievements have been made in polio eradication, neonatal tetanus elimination, and measles control, significantly reducing the number of children affected by and dying from these diseases. Currently, there have been no cases of wild poliovirus infection nationwide, with only 7 out of 610 districts and towns not yet meeting the criteria for neonatal tetanus elimination, and the measles incidence rate in 1998 was 11.3 times lower than that in 1985. Therefore, our country has the capability to achieve the targets committed to the international community, which are polio eradication, neonatal tetanus elimination, and measles control by the year 2000.

However, some difficulties still exist: epidemiologically, polio, neonatal tetanus, and measles are showing complex developments; the implementation of the Expanded Immunization Program in mountainous, border, remote, and far-flung areas is still limited, while the time frame for achieving the targets is very short. Thus, the Expanded Immunization Program activities in 1999 and 2000 are of particular importance.

To implement the aforementioned objectives and successfully carry out the "Supplementary Vaccination Days" campaign in 1999 in 11 central provinces, 19 southern provinces, 3 Central Highlands provinces, and 13 northern mountainous border provinces, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. The Ministry of Health shall develop a plan, direct, and organize the implementation of the "Supplementary Vaccination Days" campaign, ensuring adequate and timely supply of vaccines, cold storage equipment, and vaccination tools, continuing to improve the quality and effectiveness of the Expanded Immunization Program in localities, especially in remote, border, ethnic minority mountainous, island, and disaster-affected areas...

2. The Ministry of Finance shall instruct financial agencies at all levels to ensure the budget allocated in the plan for the Expanded Immunization Program.

3. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall instruct mass media agencies at all levels to organize publicity to fully raise public awareness about the importance of polio eradication, neonatal tetanus elimination, and measles control by the year 2000, encouraging people to voluntarily participate in the Expanded Immunization Program activities.

4. Relevant ministries and sectors need to coordinate and support the health sector to ensure high results for the "Supplementary Vaccination Days" campaign in 1999. In particular, the Ministry of Defense shall instruct military medical forces to cooperate in implementing the Expanded Immunization Program in remote, border, mountainous, island, ethnic minority, and disaster-affected areas to ensure immunization services reach every household throughout the country.

5. Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall direct provincial health departments and related agencies to mobilize resources, organize, and implement the "Supplementary Vaccination Days" campaign in 1999, ensuring that 100% of children under five years old receive two doses of oral polio vaccine and combined measles catch-up vaccination, and tetanus toxoid vaccination for pregnant women and women aged 15 to 35 in key areas, achieving the Expanded Immunization Program targets registered for 1999 and 2000.

6. It is requested that the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Vietnam Women's Union, the Vietnam Farmers' Union, the Vietnam Veterans Association, and the Vietnam Red Cross encourage their members and affiliates to actively participate in this campaign.

7. The Ministry of Health shall be responsible for coordinating with relevant agencies to organize and implement this Directive.