The Prime Minister requested to proactively control and prevent the spread and outbreak of diphtheria.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has just signed Official Dispatch No. 68/CD-TTg dated July 13, 2024 directing ministries, branches and localities to strengthen diphtheria prevention and control.

Telegrams to the Ministers of Health, Education and Training, Information and Communications; General Directors of Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency; Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities.

The telegram stated: Diphtheria is a dangerous acute infectious disease, transmitted through the respiratory tract, and can lead to death. The disease is prevented by vaccination and can be cured if detected promptly. Recently, a number of cases of the disease have been detected, including deaths.

Thủ tướng yêu cầu chủ động kiểm soát, ngăn chặn, không để lây lan, bùng phát bệnh bạch hầu. — The Prime Minister requested to proactively control and prevent the spread and outbreak of diphtheria.

In order to proactively control, prevent and not let diphtheria spread and break out, the Prime Minister requests:

1. The Minister of Health directs and guides:

a) Implement measures to prevent and control diphtheria; proactively monitor, detect and promptly handle outbreaks; organize vaccination and treatment to best protect the health and lives of patients;

b) Organize training to improve capacity in monitoring, diagnosing and treating diphtheria.

2. The Minister of Education and Training directs educational institutions to implement disease prevention and hygiene activities, ensure a clean and airy environment; organize health monitoring of children, pupils and students and immediately notify medical facilities when detecting suspected cases of the disease for timely isolation and treatment.

3. The Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-run cities directs:

a) Propaganda and mobilize people to implement measures to prevent and control diphtheria according to the recommendations of the health sector; instruct people to immediately go to medical facilities when showing signs of the disease for timely examination, consultation and treatment;

b) Organize diphtheria vaccination for target groups according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health, especially in areas where the disease is prevalent or where the diphtheria vaccination rate is low;

c) Closely monitor the epidemic situation in the area; proactively monitor and promptly detect cases of disease or suspected disease to thoroughly handle the outbreak; promptly treat and effectively admit, provide emergency care and treatment to patients;

d) Ensure logistics, medicines, vaccines, equipment, supplies, and chemicals for diphtheria prevention and control according to the 04 on-site motto;

d) Strengthen inspection and examination of the implementation of diphtheria prevention and control work and strictly handle violations.

4. The Minister of Information and Communications, General Directors of Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency and press agencies shall strengthen the dissemination of measures to prevent and control diphtheria; provide complete and truthful information about the epidemic situation.

5. Assign Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long to directly monitor and direct the implementation of this Official Dispatch.

The Government Office, according to its assigned functions and tasks, shall coordinate with the Ministry of Health to monitor and urge relevant ministries, agencies and localities to implement this Official Dispatch; promptly report to the Prime Minister any problems and difficulties in the implementation process.

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