Quang Tri reconstructs, renovates, and effectively operates 28 communal health centers

Quang Tri Province has successfully constructed, renovated, and brought into operation 28 commune health stations under the investment project for building and developing grassroots healthcare services.

This is part of a sub-project funded by the World Bank and central government allocations.

Deputy Chairman of Quang Tri People’s Committee, Hoang Nam, in a meeting with the monitoring team. Photo: Thanh Hai.

The total investment in Quang Tri is VND151 billion (almost US$6 million), with the objective of constructing or significantly renovating 32 commune-level health stations across the province.

Currently, about VND13 billion ($512,000) remains from the central budget allocation, which is expected to be fully disbursed by 2024. The equipment component, worth around VND25 billion ($984,000), has been invested in machinery that is now operating effectively. It is expected that by the first quarter of 2025, the final settlements for the construction investment component will be completed.

In terms of training, between 2022 and 2023, 11 training courses were organized for provincial health personnel, while 28 courses were held for commune-level health workers. These covered essential topics like management and primary healthcare, significantly improving the healthcare services at the commune level.

Specialized training on managing cervical cancer, tuberculosis, and pulmonary diseases, as well as handling non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes, has been implemented effectively, enhancing primary healthcare and the management of community health records.

At a meeting last week, a delegation of the World Bank and the Central Project Management Unit of the Ministry of Health highly praised Quang Tri Province for its creative and practical approach in building health stations that cater to local needs, especially in areas prone to climate change, natural disasters, and floods.

The inspection of equipment usage has shown that the investments are performing well, the delegation said.

The monitoring team recommended that the province allocate funds promptly to bring the remaining four health stations into operation and complete the training component in time to close the project by the end of the year.

The project has significantly contributed to building a comprehensive grassroots healthcare system, said Deputy Chairman of Quang Tri People’s Committee Hoang Nam.

Quang Tri Province still needs to improve the infrastructure of 22 more commune health stations to fully complete the healthcare network at the commune level, he said.

This will bring healthcare services closer to the people, alleviate the burden on higher-level facilities, and improve preventive healthcare efforts, Nam added.

Deputy Chairman Nam also pledged to completing the four communal health centers by November 2024.

The province will maximize the use of non-refundable project funds to provide further training to grassroots healthcare staff, Nam said.

He added that the province would allocate provincial funds for the maintenance and upkeep of the facilities to ensure their long-term effectiveness.

Thanh Hai – Huy Anh