Deputy Health Minister Tran Chi Liem and UNICEF chief representative Jesper Morch have led a working team to southern coastal Ninh Thuan province to supervise the operation of UN-funded children and reproductive healthcare projects in the province.

During their tour from June 30 to July 2, the team highlighted the due attention of local administration and the determination of projects’ staff.

The awareness of local people were raised while reproductive healthcare services and quality were improved in most of the projects’ beneficiary areas, said the team.

However, they said, the rate of malnourished children remain high in these areas and there are many challenges to personnel and financial sources.

The team also suggested the province focus on training and human resource development as well as supply of medicines and medical instruments at village and communal levels.

The United Nations organisations are supporting Ninh Thuan in implementing two projects worth more than US$4 million funded by the UN Population Fund and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The first project is on the improvement of reproductive healthcare services during the 2006-2010 period and the second on children’s friendship for the 2007-2011 period.(VNA)