WHD 2003 Events - Viet Nam

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In Viet Nam, the World Health Day 2003 was marked by a variety of activities, organized by WHO Representative in Viet Nam in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Education and Training (MoET)and the government of the city of Hanoi (Ha Noi People's Committee) and UNICEF. Thus the WHD brought together important stakeholders from various sectors.

The following activities were accomplished:

1. Promoted physical improvements in one primary school (Ly Thuong Kiet Primary School in Ha Noi) to set a model of involving teachers, parents and students in the creation of a healthy working and learning environment and extending the model to influence the wider local community. Through this experience, teachers, parents, students, local leaders and programme managers from relevant government agencies had the opportunity to work together to create a safer setting in the school including reducing risks in the playground, promoting smoke free places in the community,improving hygiene and sanitation, establishing green areas, improving waste disposal facilities and ensuring the informed participation of the children in making these changes.

2. Supported a painting competition on the subject "Healthy Environments for Children" within the primary school. The best paintings were printed on postcards carrying advocacy messages about healthy environments (see attached). The postcards and the Height Chart (adapted from HQ) with relevant and interesting messages developed by the children themselves and bright colours will be used as IEC tools for education on healthy settings. These information materials were distributed nationwide for teachers, students, health workers and the community in order to increase interest in the Health Promoting Schools approach.

3. The World Health Day Event was celebrated on 5 April with the participation of political leaders and good coverage on television and radio news, and coverage in many local papers in Vietnamese and English. The press coverage focused the messages on the promotion of smoke-free public events and on schools as smoke-free environments to protect children's health.

In addition, the event was attended by the country representatives from UNICEF, UNESCO and UNDP, giving a higher profile to WHD and linking it to the Millennium Development Goals related to children.

World Health Day 2003 - Healthy Environments for Children

Date: 5 April 2003

Location: Ly Thuong Kiet Primary School, 104 Nguyen Khuyen Street,Dong Da District, Ha Noi, Viet Nam

Summary: In Viet Nam, the World Health Day event is being organized with the close collaboration of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and the Training and WHO Representative in Viet Nam. At Ly Thuong Kiet Primary School, which required environmental improvement(classrooms/playground), was selected to be supported to create a healthier environment for the children learning there. A painting competition is also being conducted for children of all grades. The best pictures will be printed in the postcards to be distribute to all the children for them to send to their friends. The winners will be awared prizes at the celebration of WHD (5 April). The event will involve children, parents, decision makers, relevant agencies, mass media, etc.

More information:

WHO Representative's Office in Viet Nam
LyP@vtn.wpro.who.int

National Health Exposition

The National Health Exposition, coordinated by the Department of Health, was staged 12– 13 April. This year, it was dedicated to the theme “Healthy Environments for Children” in commemoration of World Health Day 2003.