The Ministry of Health of Vietnam is planning to implement a new infection control system in all central and provincial hospitals by 2015.
The goal of the project is to improve treatment and safety for patients, health staff and the community.
The Vice Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Xuyen was quoted by Viet Nam News as saying that an improvement in Vietnam’s ability to prevent known infectious diseases and to control dangerous and newly emerging threats can be accomplished through a strengthened, adaptable and multi-disciplinary health system.
"In the past Vietnam has faced many challenges in hospital infection control and prevention due to a shortage of human resources. Control measures should be applied regularly and seriously in hospitals," Xuyen added.
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In a survey conducted across 19 central hospitals in 2005 an infection rate of about 5.8% was observed, and the most common hospital infections were clinic pneumonia and infections resulting from burns.
A survey conducted by the ministry in August 2012, across 522 hospitals nation-wide, identified the establishment of infection control systems in 59.4% of hospitals and found that up to 81.4% have established infection control councils.
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A WHO expert in emerging diseases surveillance, Babatunde Olowokure, was quoted by the news agency as saying that Vietnam faces the threat of emerging diseases such as the infectious H1N1 pandemic virus and the drug-resistant pathogen.
Olowokure advised that the ministry should focus on building infectious disease surveillance and epidemiology investigation, and creating a network and co-ordination mechanism.
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