The PM made the statement during his reception for the World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative in Vietnam, Park Ki-dong, in Hanoi on March 14.
The host expressed his thanks for the WHO’s close cooperation with Vietnam in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, speaking highly of the efforts and contributions made by WHO and Park himself to provide policy consultations and technical support for Vietnam in recent times.
Vietnam has been combating COVID-19 in a proactive, synchronous and drastic manner, with the participation of the entire political system, including both the army and public security forces, he said.
For his part, the WHO official applauded the Vietnamese Government’s proactive and drastic engagement in COVID-19 prevention and control, noting that WHO has been impressed by the cooperation of all Vietnamese people in the work.
He also expressed his impressions on the two strategies that are being implemented by the Government and the Health Ministry of Vietnam, including the “four on-site” motto (on-site quarantine, on-site treatment, on-site forces and on-site leadership) and the quarantine principles.
WHO encourages the Government of Vietnam to continue to drastically combat the disease like at present, and to apply even stronger measures, as well as to review the plans which are ready to be activated in the case of widespread COVID-19 outbreaks, Park said.
In the communication work, Vietnam should pay attention to mitigating stigma toward COVID-19 patients and preventing the spread of the patients’ personal and sensitive information on social networks, he stated.
PM Phuc affirmed Vietnam considers disease prevention and control as a key task of the Government, levels, sectors, localities and the entire people, noting that the Government has launched a direct support programme, which includes ensuring adequate supply of essential goods for the people.
The leader shared WHO’s stance on attaching importance to the frontline medical forces in the COVID-19 fight, stressing that Vietnam’s health forces are always enthusiastic in the disease prevention and control work in both rural and urban areas.
Vietnam condemns the stigmatising of COVID-19 patients, PM Phuc said, stating that the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security is strictly handling those spreading false rumors on the Internet, causing discrimination against people with COVID-19, including through criminal prosecution.
He called on WHO to support Vietnam with the latest scientific-technological advances and equipment in disease prevention and control, as well as to provide the best treatment regimen and quick test kits for COVID-19.
Park Ki-dong pledged to work closely with the Vietnamese Ministry of Health and mobilise optimal resources to support Vietnam, while asserting that Vietnam remains a safe destination.
