Healthcare for people in mountainous regions

In the mountainous districts of Lao Cai province, people's lives are still difficult, and access to healthcare is limited. Therefore, the local Party committees and authorities always pay attention to and prioritize investment in infrastructure, improving the quality of medical services, and ensuring healthcare and health protection for the people.

At the end of February 2024, the Si Ma Cai District Health Center officially put its 32-slice CT scanner system into operation. The investment in this modern CT scanner is of significant importance in the diagnosis and treatment of complex diseases such as cardiovascular, thoracic, cranial, and vascular conditions; and emergency cases such as appendicitis, perforated hollow organs, and intestinal obstruction. This contributes to improving the quality of medical examination and treatment at the center and reducing the burden on higher-level hospitals.

Recently, the signing of medical cooperation agreements between the People's Committee of Lao Cai province and central-level hospitals has opened opportunities for local health units in disadvantaged areas like Si Ma Cai to receive professional support. Currently, two resident doctors from Hanoi Medical University Hospital are working at the Si Ma Cai District Health Center. These doctors not only directly examine patients but also provide guidance, transfer new techniques, and improve the capacity of the district's medical staff . The National Children's Hospital has also signed a cooperation agreement with the unit to transfer medical examination and treatment techniques.

Currently, in the mountainous areas of Lao Cai , child marriage, teenage childbirth, and consanguineous marriage still persist. In addition, the rates of malnutrition and home births remain high, and the rate of pregnant women and newborns receiving disease screening is low. Compared to the national average, Lao Cai's Human Development Index is still low. Average life expectancy is only 70 years (compared to 73 years nationwide), and healthy life expectancy is 63 years. Maternal mortality, child mortality, and child malnutrition, while reduced, are still higher than the national average and vary significantly between districts.

For example, in Bac Ha district, the rate of mothers and newborns receiving postpartum care is only 77.98%; the rate of births at medical facilities is only 79%; the rate of newborn screening is only 50%; the rate of stunting due to malnutrition remains high at 23.4%, especially in some communes such as Thai Giang Pho (37.4%); Hoang Thu Pho (31.7%)...

In early December 2023, the Ministry of Health issued Decision 4440, assigning Hai Phong Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital to be responsible for directing the obstetrics and gynecology specialty in Lao Cai province. Hai Phong Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital has developed a plan to organize many training activities and transfer medical techniques to Lao Cai Provincial Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital and district hospitals in Lao Cai province, including many important techniques such as obstetric and neonatal emergency management and laparoscopic surgery.

Hai Phong Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital also collaborated with Lao Cai Provincial Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital to organize free medical examinations and treatment for ethnic minority people in the highland and border districts. Hundreds of women and children in Bac Ha have received free health check-ups and medication.

Medical experts from Hai Phong Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital also provided specialized support in obstetrics and gynecology and updated training on new guidelines for hemostasis methods in managing postpartum hemorrhage in Bac Ha and Si Ma Cai districts. These practical support activities from Hai Phong Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital have helped medical facilities improve their capacity for examination and treatment in obstetrics and gynecology, contributing to reducing mortality and complications among mothers and newborns in ethnic minority areas.

With the professional support of central-level hospitals, the provincial health sector has successfully maintained Project 1816 on the rotation of professional staff from higher-level hospitals to lower-level ones, which has been bringing positive changes to healthcare in the mountainous region.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/cham-soc-suc-khoe-nguoi-dan-vung-cao-post382488.html