The figures were unveiled at a national midterm review on “A world fit for children” document of the United Nations (UN) held in Hanoi on March 26.

According to a report delivered at the conference, in the reviewed period, more than 90 percent of children have been vaccinated against contagious diseases, which helps the nation basically wipe out infectious diseases and improve children’s lives. The education system has been expanded to all communes and wards across the country, gradually meeting children’s need for study and ensuring their rights to go to school, live and be protected in a stable and healthy environment.

Addressing the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung stressed that under the national action programme for children in the 2001-2010 period, child care and protection work has been strengthened towards ensuring children’s fundamental rights and needs. 

However, he raised concern over a high rate of malnutrition among children under five years old, the trafficking in children, the increased number of law-breakers, drug addicts and HIV/AIDS infections among children, as well as difficulties facing children in remote, mountainous and island areas.

The Vietnamese Government has created favourable conditions for children to develop comprehensively, both physically and spiritually, said Mr Hung. He asked ministries, agencies and localities to pour more investment into protecting and educating children in the coming years, while accelerating economic growth and implementing social equality.