“Improving Health Education Communication Capacity in 2023: Insights from Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong at Workshop”

Deputy Minister of Health Emphasizes the Importance of Health Education Communication

In a workshop titled “Improving health education communication capacity in 2023,” Associate Professor, PhD. Nguyen Thi Lien Huong, the Deputy Minister of Health, expressed her strong support for enhancing health education communication. The workshop, organized by the Central Health Education Communication Center, took place in Phu Quoc on October 20 and gathered leaders from various health-related departments and institutions.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong highlighted the significance of health education communication, stating that it consistently receives special attention from both the Party and the State. She emphasized that communication work plays a crucial role in bringing Party resolutions, state policies, strategies, plans, and action programs related to healthcare to life.

During the conference, the report on the implementation of health education communication work in provinces and cities from the beginning of 2023 until now was presented. The report showcased the significant deployment of various communication activities, particularly through mass media, social networks, thematic campaigns, medical events, and integrated communication. These efforts have yielded encouraging results, with many activities surpassing the proposed plans.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong expressed her appreciation for the efforts of the officers responsible for health education communication at the grassroots level. She acknowledged their dedication and commitment to improving public health through effective communication.

MSc Vu Manh Cuong, the Director of the Central Health Education Communication Center, emphasized the vital role of health education communication officers. He described them as the nucleus that connects information communication, contributing to the effective and rapid care, protection, and improvement of people’s health.

The workshop served as a platform for exchanging experiences and sharing successful models of health education communication nationwide. It focused on improving the online capacity of the health education communication system and addressing both immediate challenges and long-term strategies.

Presentations from various provinces and cities, including Hai Phong, Tuyen Quang, Quang Ninh, and Khanh Hoa, offered insights into the advantages, difficulties, and proposals related to health education communication. The discussions shed light on several key challenges faced by participating delegates.

One significant difficulty highlighted by delegates was the limited capacity of part-time staff responsible for health education communication due to fluctuations in both quantity and quality. This constraint heavily impacted the effectiveness and quality of communication efforts. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down the direction and implementation of annual health education communication work at both central and provincial levels.

Additionally, the current policy regime for staff working in health education communication was deemed inconsistent with their functions and tasks, lacking incentives to foster enthusiasm. Furthermore, the insufficient allocation of equipment and funding for health education communication activities in several provinces and cities hindered progress in this field.

Despite these challenges, health education communication professionals have shared communication models and methods suitable for the digital media era. This marks a significant step forward in providing timely, accurate, and direct information to the public. The integration of digital technologies in health education communication has effectively met the information needs of the people.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong concluded the workshop by expressing her commitment to addressing the concerns and suggestions raised by delegates. She emphasized the need to research and propose guidance documents to enhance communication and health education, create better conditions for health education communication teams at the local level, and improve policies and working conditions to ensure the enthusiastic participation of communication professionals. Effective, timely, and accurate communication was identified as a priority for health education work.

The symposium for the Northern region is scheduled to take place in Quang Ninh on October 27.

Antwan Cronin