Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VNA) Speaking at the meeting of the National SteeringCommittee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, the leader stressed the significanceof vaccination, and urged ministries, agencies and localities, particularly theMinistry of Health, to step up the communication work.
The resurgence of COVID-19 outbreak must beprevented, said Chinh, who is also head of the committee, emphasising the threepillars in the fight – testing, quarantine and treatment.
Given the appearance of new epidemics, the PM saidit is necessary to ensure resources, the quality of preventive health care andmedical infrastructure, and enhance grassroots health care.
Acting Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan reported atthe meeting that in the first seven months of this year, the country recordedover 9 million cases of COVID-19, of which the number of recoveries reachedmore than 8.5 million and fatalities, 11,000.
As of August 4, some 247 million doses of COVID-19vaccines had been administered, putting Vietnam among the countries with thehighest vaccination coverage.
PM Chinh requested that targeted groups shouldreceive the third and fourth shots, and children aged from five to 12 shouldgot the second within this month.
The leader reiterated the spirit of safely andflexibly adapting to and effectively controlling the pandemic to acceleraterapid economic recovery and sustainable development.
He asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment togive guidelines on bidding procedures relating to the procurement of medicalequipment, and handle obstacles to the work.
More than 82 trillion VND (3.5 billion USD) has beenallocated so far, benefiting 728,488 employers and 49.94 million employees andother groups affected by the pandemic, the leader noted, asking the Ministry ofLabour, Invalids and Social Affairs to instruct localities to better implementsuch policies.
Chinh also called for greater efforts in the fightagainst corruption and stronger international cooperation in COVID-19prevention and control.
At the meeting, representatives of localitiessuggested the Government pay more attention to policies towards health workersat the grassroots level and preventive health care sector.
The Ministry of Health should upgrade COVID-19prevention and control measures at industrial parks, and production and businessfacilities, and continue to help localities with medical supplies in thecombat, they said./.
VNA
