The child patient has passed the dangerous stage
According to the Ministry of Health, on May 8, a delegation from the Ministry of Health led by Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc visited and encouraged the child patient who was a victim in the child abuse case that occurred in Ba Ria - Vung Tau before, now in Ho Chi Minh City, and is currently being treated at Children's Hospital 1.
According to a report from Children's Hospital 1, the patient, over 2 years old, was admitted to the hospital in a state of multiple severe injuries with many serious injuries such as liver, spleen, pancreas, lung injuries and multiple fractures due to abuse. After nearly a week of intensive treatment, the patient's condition has passed the dangerous stage, and health indicators are gradually stabilizing.
Immediately after receiving the child patient, Children's Hospital 1 activated the "one-stop-shop model" in supporting children affected by violence and abuse. Accordingly, in addition to emergency treatment, the hospital also coordinates with social work, psychology, child protection units and functional agencies to comprehensively support children.
The atmosphere of the working session dropped many times when doctors reported on the patient's condition and the journey of treatment over the past few days.
Don't wait for children to be beaten before saving them
At the working session, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc repeatedly emphasized the two words "prevention". He said that visiting and supporting a specific case only has the meaning of immediate encouragement. More importantly, child abuse must be prevented before the tragedy occurs.
Don't let children be abused before we get involved. That is not a fundamental solution" - the Deputy Minister said.
According to the Deputy Minister, child abuse is a "hidden crime", very difficult to detect, not only in Vietnam but around the world.
Although Vietnam has many policies to protect children such as the 2016 Law on Children, resolutions and directives of the Government and the Politburo, in reality, painful incidents still continuously occur. In a short time, the whole country continuously recorded many serious cases of violence, including cases of child deaths.
The Deputy Minister said that for effective prevention, inter-sectoral coordination is needed instead of just the health sector alone. He especially emphasized the construction of a child abuse risk classification system, similar to many countries currently applying it.
Children in very high-risk groups must be monitored and supported by the whole society. Local authorities, unions, schools, healthcare... must join hands" - he said.
According to the Deputy Minister, when the community and government are present regularly, those who intend to abuse will also be more hesitant. He also proposed strengthening communication about the National Child Protection Hotline 111.
It is necessary to let number 111 creep into each residential area, industrial park, and each high-risk family. As soon as neighbors suspect violence, they must immediately think of 111" - the Deputy Minister emphasized.
According to leaders of the Ministry of Health, the operating mechanism of switchboard 111 is currently quite complete, and inter-sectoral coordination can be immediately activated when receiving information about the risk of child abuse and violence.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Tri Thuc and leaders of the Vietnam Children's Fund presented 10 million VND in support to child abuse patients. The working delegation also visited, presented gifts and provided cash support to 50 children in difficult circumstances being treated at Children's Hospital 1.
Before ending the working session, the Deputy Minister instructed relevant units not to let the child fall into oblivion after being discharged from the hospital. "A child who is so hurt, especially psychologically, will need a very long journey to recover and integrate into the community," he said.
