The Maternal and Child Health Department of the Ministry of Health and the United Nations Population Fund – UNFPA officially launched on 18 March the MCH247 app for IOS, Android and computer-based (window) versions, which was developed with technical support from UNFPA and Centre for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP) with funding from the Government of Japan.

It was part of the ongoing tele-health interventions to ensure the provision and utilization of sexual and reproductive health information and services without disruption amid COVID-19.

The app was piloted in Bac Ninh, Hoa Binh, Sơn La and Bac Can provinces and will be rolled out throughout Viet Nam, with particular attention to the regions where other ethnic minorities and migrant workers reside.  

The Deputy Director of the Maternal and Child Health Department of the Ministry of Health, Mr. Tran Dang Khoa emphasised: “It is particularly useful for women amid the COVID-19 pandemic when travel restriction and social distancing are required or in other humanitarian situations. It is one of our attempts to make sure ‘no one is left behind’ amid and post pandemic”.

UNFPA Vietnam also handed over to the Maternal and Child Healh Department a full set of tele and video-conferencing equipment, which is essential part of the tele-health initiative.

It allows the Ministry to conduct supervision and provide technical backstopping in sexual and reproductive health to provinces, carry out specific training sessions for capacity development, and orient technical directions in sexual and reproductive health protocols and guidelines./.