Raising awareness and controlling epidemics from the grassroots level
From the beginning of 2026 to now, the number of infectious disease cases in Vinh Long province has tended to increase, putting great pressure on the health sector. Localities have synchronously implemented many early epidemic prevention and control solutions.
According to the health sector, in the first months of 2026, hand, foot and mouth disease and dengue fever increased sharply in many localities. The whole province recorded over 1,940 cases of dengue fever, more than 1,000 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, all increasing sharply compared to the same period.
According to statistics, children under 15 years old account for nearly 50% of cases, showing a high risk of spread in schools and residential areas. In addition, the province also recorded diseases such as tetanus, rabies, meningococcal meningitis and Japanese encephalitis.
To control the epidemic, the province strengthens preventive medicine capacity, consolidates grassroots health care, ensures resources according to the "4 on-site" motto, and at the same time promotes vaccination and communication to change community behavior.
At the grassroots level, commune and ward health stations are identified as the focal points for monitoring, early detection of cases and organizing immediate handling from the beginning, limiting widespread spread in the community.
In Phuoc Hau ward, a locality with a high increase in dengue fever cases, the government has launched a campaign to kill larvae, mobilizing forces to go to each household to inspect and handle water containers.
Ms. Phan Thi Ngoc Nhi - Director of Phuoc Hau Ward Health Station - said that people's awareness plays a decisive role in preventing and controlling epidemics, especially dengue fever. "Many households have proactively cleaned the environment, covered water containers, and released fish to kill larvae. When there are no larvae, no mosquitoes, there will be no dengue fever," Ms. Nhi added.
According to Ms. Nhi, people also raise awareness of health protection such as sleeping under mosquito nets, wearing long-sleeved clothes and going to medical facilities for examination and treatment when there are signs of suspected illness.
Proactive disease prevention in schools
Not only in the community, hand, foot and mouth disease prevention is also strongly implemented in kindergartens and preschools with many synchronous solutions to limit the risk of spread.
According to Ms. Phan Ngoc Thuy Anh - Principal of Hoa Mi Long Ho Kindergarten, the school maintains hygiene, disinfects classrooms daily, monitors children's health and guides personal hygiene habits. "We focus on washing hands properly, not allowing children to suck on toys, and coordinate with parents to monitor children's health every day," Ms. Thuy Anh said.
BS.CK2 Tran Chi Cong - Head of Pediatrics Department of Vinh Long General Hospital - recommends that the principle of disease prevention is early detection, timely isolation and maintaining personal hygiene and living environment.
People need to practice well the'3 cleanliness', regularly wash their hands, and disinfect utensils. When children have signs of fever, rash or mouth ulcers, they need to be taken to a medical facility early," Dr. Cong emphasized.
According to Director of Vinh Long Department of Health Ho Thi Thu Hang, the province's 2026 goal is to minimize the rate of infection and death from infectious diseases, effectively control epidemics, and be ready to respond to emergency situations.
Ms. Hang said that the health sector will synchronously implement epidemic prevention and control measures, strengthen surveillance, early detection and thoroughly handle outbreaks right from the grassroots level, not allowing widespread spread. "Preventive medicine and communication play a key role. Implementing good prevention will help prevent epidemics early, reduce treatment costs, and protect community health," Ms. Hang emphasized.
