Vietnam Launches Comprehensive Project to Enhance Student Health

The Vietnamese Party and State consistently prioritize the protection, care, and enhancement of the health of children, students, and young people as a crucial mission for their comprehensive development. During the 2021-2025 period, numerous programs, schemes, and projects focused on student health have been widely issued and implemented. The 'Vietnam Youth Health Project' for the 2023-2026 period, approved by the Ministry of Education and Training, is being implemented with non-refundable aid from AstraZeneca through Plan International Vietnam. This project supports the 'School Health Program' for 2021-2025. It is being deployed in 26 secondary schools and three universities in Hanoi, aiming to improve the health and foster healthy, happy lives for young people aged 10-24. Activities include communication campaigns and capacity building for preventing non-communicable diseases, alongside creating safe and friendly school environments. Results indicate that while Vietnam has policy foundations in school physical education, sports, child rights, and gender equality, the mechanisms and resources to promote student sports participation, especially among girls, remain underdeveloped. Only 52.36% of female students engage in physical activity or sports outside of class hours, 17.55% lower than male students. Furthermore, only 20.80% of female students meet the recommendation of at least one hour of physical activity per day. Through the project, parents and students have gained awareness that regular exercise contributes to better health and have been warned about the detrimental effects of stimulants, fast food, and electronic device addiction, which can lead to conditions like obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and depression. "Non-communicable diseases include conditions like obesity, diabetes, and cancer... Risk factors often involve regular smoking, alcohol abuse, and excessive consumption of fried foods and fast food," shared Ms. Tran Thi Lan, whose child attends Gia Thuy Secondary School in Hanoi. Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien, whose child studies at Cau Giay High School in Hanoi, stated, "At bedtime, I always ask to disconnect the Wi-Fi and collect phones. Parents must also adhere to a regular sleep schedule to set an example. Staying up late affects eyesight and health, making it impossible for children to wake up early for exercise the next day." Teachers from Nguyen Gia Thieu High School noted that the project's materials have equipped them with better understanding and guidance to support schools and collaborate with families. Any homeroom or subject teacher can now act as a health communicator. Ms. Le Quynh Lan, Country Director of Plan International Vietnam, highlighted that the project adopts a comprehensive approach, not only raising awareness but also promoting behavioral change and building safe, positive school environments to support student health. The project has equipped youth with knowledge and skills in balanced nutrition, physical activity, mental health care, and prevention of non-communicable disease risk factors. Models like friendly school health services, sports spaces for girls, and menstrual hygiene management in schools have been successfully implemented and are being integrated into the Ministry of Education and Training's School Health Program for wider replication. A notable outcome is empowering youth through clubs, peer educator networks, and student-led communication initiatives. Professor Dr. Le Anh Vinh, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences, emphasized the critical role of physical activity and sports in the holistic development of children, particularly during adolescence, a period of significant physical, psychological, and social changes. For girls, maintaining an active lifestyle not only enhances physical health but also boosts mental well-being, self-confidence, and collaborative skills. This research helps identify barriers limiting girls' sports participation and provides empirical evidence for schools, families, and stakeholders to design more effective solutions. Mr. Hoang Duc Minh, Director of the Department of Students and Pupils at the Ministry of Education and Training, described the Vietnam Youth Health Project as an innovative model with direct interventions in schools, contributing to improved knowledge and skills in preventing non-communicable diseases. It also supports parents and teachers in fostering healthy and safe lifestyles among students. The Ministry is collaborating with Plan International Vietnam to evaluate existing school health programs and student health care initiatives from 2021-2025, with the results serving as a crucial basis for proposing and seeking approval for the next School Health Program for 2026-2030. Information Source: Nhan Dan