Government chief hails HCM City's pandemic containment efforts
Ho Chi Minh City has significantly contributed to the nation’s wider COVID-19 prevention and control efforts through changes in mindset and approach, along with decisive pilot steps.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh made the affirmation during the visit to the municipal Health Department on January 24 to mark the occasion of the upcoming Lunar New Year, known locally as Tet.
PM Chinh praised the hard work of the southern city's health sector during the city's fight against the pandemic, particularly amid the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant and a shortage of vaccines and treatment drugs. He said that in such difficult conditions, many "unprecedented" policies to rein in the pandemic and support local people have been built, promulgated, and implemented both drastically and effectively on an unprecedented scale.
The Government leader noted that Ho Chi Minh City was also the first locality to launch the vaccination drive, serving to contribute to turning the nation from a place with a very low vaccination rate, into one of the six countries to boast the highest vaccination coverage rate in the world.To date, the southern city has confidently reopened its doors and proactively implemented a policy of safe and flexible adaptation to and effective control of the pandemic.
Moving forward into 2022, there will be more difficulties and challenges ahead compared to opportunities and advantages, particularly as the pandemic is still likely to develop in a complicated manner with new variants, the PM said. He therefore requested that Ho Chi Minh City not lose vigilance and effectively implements the programme on pandemic prevention and control for 2022 to 2023, along with future socio-economic recovery and development plans.He also urged quicker vaccination for all people, with a particular focus on children aged to 12 to 17 in order to reopen schools after Tet, whilst asking the health sector to speed up digital transformation and improve the overall quality of health care.
The same day saw PM Chinh visit Thi Nghe Protection Center for Disabled Orphans, a site which is home to nearly 250 disabled and orphaned children.
