The “Improve Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Yen Bai province” launch workshop attracted the participation of more than 70 delegates, including leaders of Save the Children International (SCI), representatives of donor Daiichi Sankyo, deputy director of the department of Health, department of Education and Training, Provincial Women's Union, Yen Bai Provincial Youth Union, Department of Finance and others.

The project launching workshop in Yen Bai province on July 4

This project aims to prevent child marriage, early childbearing and childbirth, and to protect maternal and child health through the provision of child-friendly visual aids and training guidelines.

Activities that strengthen education on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) care and support the provision and management of hygiene products for ASRH care services are to be conducted, thereby improving access and quality of the sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents (15 to 19 years old).

At the launch workshop, participants discussed the coordination between stakeholders, the current situation and difficulties encountered in the project, implementation methods with the highest efficiency, and the role of the project to the community.

The participants discussed the coordination between stakeholders

According to Yen Bai Department of Health, the pregnancy rate among adolescents aged 15-19 in 2021 was 15.5 per cent in Mu Cang Chai district and 9.6 per cent in Van Chan district.

Also, this year, the rate of home delivery (without support of trained health workers) was respectively 63.1 per cent and 13.5 per cent in Mu Cang Chai and Van Chan. In addition, there are numerous other issues concerning sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) such as non-consensual sex, child marriage, unsafe abortions, and the high risk of sexually transmitted diseases.

The Vietnamese government has made great efforts to improve the situation regarding adolescents’ SRHR and has encouraged people to be equipped with sexual and reproductive knowledge and skills, but for ethnic groups living in the mountainous regions, further interventions are a pressing need.

The project will contribute to the achievement of Goal 3 “Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages” and Goal 5 “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).