Strong engagement from the health sector, education sector, and the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee in Quang Ninh promises positive outcomes for comprehensive care of young children in the first 2,000 days of life

On August 5, 2025, the Research and Training Centre for Community Development (RTCCD) met with provincial officials from the Department of Health, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Department of Education, and the Provincial Women’s Union in Quang Ninh to discuss the implementation of activities under the project “Enabling Mountainous and Rural Children from Five Provinces in Vietnam to Grow and Thrive (EM-THRIVE)” in Quang Ninh over the next three years (2025–2027).

Following RTCCD’s presentation on the results achieved after eight years of piloting the project in Ha Nam province, as well as the plan for five provinces/cities in the coming three years, delegates agreed that this is a highly practical project that should be implemented. Dr. Nguyen Minh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Health, directed the CDC to develop a concrete plan to integrate project activities into the health sector’s core programs, including immunization, maternal care, and child healthcare at commune health stations, vaccination centers, and maternity/pediatric/general hospitals. This plan will also define the roles of the Department of Education and the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee.

Ms. Hoai Thu, Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Education, shared that there are nearly 400 public and private preschools across the province. The project’s interventions are particularly necessary, especially those focused on first aid for young children and mental health and psychological support for students. Given parents’ busy work schedules, children now spend more time at school than at home. The Department of Education expressed readiness to collaborate with the Department of Health and the CDC in implementing the activities, and emphasized the importance of training teachers on the program’s core skills before rollout.

Ms. Binh Thin, an officer from the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, highlighted that the project’s interventions help ensure the rights and care of women and children. She also noted a rising number of children diagnosed with hyperactivity and autism in the community. The project, she suggested, should also target grandparents and caregivers such as domestic helpers, who often play a major role in childcare. The Women’s Union–Fatherland Front Committee proposed a clear plan for coordination and community-based implementation to maximize support for the Department of Health and the CDC.

Although the province is still finalizing staff assignments following the recent merger of two administrative levels, the CDC committed to proactively preparing training and piloting activities in selected commune clusters with large screens before September 30, 2025.

Some photos from the meeting: