Disparities in the well-being of children and women persist in Viet Nam, according to a UN-backed Survey. It also shows that the differences vary across regions by gender, area of residence, wealth, and ethnicity. There is also a considerable gap between rural and urban areas, with one in two urban children fully immunized, compared to only one in three in rural areas. (Also Read: - “Guaranteeing Minimum Health Benefits & Employment” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/guaranteeing-minimum-health-benefits-employmentincome-money-flash-by-ambassador-mo/38385). Immunization: ---2 in 5 children between the ages of 12 and 23 months are fully immunized. (Survey was carried out by Viet Nam’s General Statistics Office in partnership with government ministries, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). Water & Sanitation: ---7 in 10 Vietnamese have access to drinking water and improved sanitation facilities. However, “a person living in an ethnic Kinh or Hoa household is more than twice as likely to have access to those amenities as a person living in an ethnic minority household.” (UN News Centre Report) Nutrition & Child Growth Stunted: Nearly 1 of 4 children under the age of five in Viet Nam is stunted – shorter than he or she should be for his or her age – stunting rate among ethnic minority children is twice as high compared to their Kinh or Hoa peers. Reproductive Health: Most women aged between 15 and 49 who gave birth in the two years preceding the Survey received antenatal care at least once by skilled personnel, and two thirds had the recommended four antenatal care visits. 9 in 10 deliveries took place in health facilities, but significant disparities emerge by ethnicity. Virtually all women in Kinh or Hoa households delivered in a health facility compared to 3 in 5 women from ethnic minority households. (Also Read: -Viet Nam Sex Workers Compulsory Rehab Centers) - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/vietnam-sex-workers-compulsory-rehab-centers-by-ambassador-mo/42337). “The report provides evidence that ethnic minorities are not faring well in most surveyed areas,” according to Lotta Sylwander, UNICEF’s representative in Viet Nam. “The data generated… [in the Survey] will allow policy-makers to target their resources to those population groups that are in most need of attention and should be the focus of collective development efforts. This would allow the benefits of Viet Nam’s economic growth to reach women and children in all ethnic, economic and social groups.” The report also shows that about a third of women who received antenatal care during their last pregnancy were tested for HIV. Significant disparities emerged by area of residence, with women living in urban areas twice as likely to have been tested compared to women living in rural areas. LINK to UNICEF Survey - www.unicef.org/media/media_61023.html. The survey is an initiative which UNICEF has used since the mid-1990s to assist countries to collect and analyze data to monitor conditions for children and women. ---By, Susan Sacirbey Facebook: Become a Fan at “DIPLOMATICALLY INCORRECT” & “SUSAN SACIRBEY” Follow on TWITTER @DiplomaticallyX “Humanitarian” Channel - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/humanitarian