Briefing the guest on local socio-economic situation as well as potential and advantages, Truong said that Lao Cai has received support from many international organisations, including the UNICEF through various programmes and projects, helping the province strengthen people’s equal access to safe studying environment.
However, the Lao Cai official said that the province's education and health care sectors have faced many difficulties due to tough terrain and scattered population, two-thirds of education facilities are in mountainous areas, and 70% of students are from ethnic minority groups.
Meanwhile, mental health care and psychosocial support, especially for children and adolescents have also been limited, Truong said.
He proposed that the UNICEF increase assistance to Lao Cai in these fields.
Lao Cai hopes to continue receiving support in maternal and child malnutrition prevention and control, especially in disadvantaged communes and communes with high malnutrition rate, along with financial assistance for reproductive health care activities, he said.
He also called for the UNICEF's support in implementing digital transformation in education and foreign language training for local students and teachers, as well as capacity improvement for teachers in remote and mountainous areas.
Queen Mathilde showed her pleasure at the active coordination and engagement of Lao Cai in UNICEF-funded projects in the locality.
She said that she will tour local education establishments in the province and explore the effectiveness of information technology application in teaching and learning activities. She will also visit nutritional clubs for local mothers and have talks with local students on mental health care, which is one of the issues receiving great attention currently, she added.
