(VOVworld) – Parliamentarians attending the ongoing IPU-132 have underscored the challenges, raised specific practical examples on the supply of medical services to protect maternal and children’s heath, and put forward recommendations for the issue following the post-2015 period.

Vietnamese children are receiving increased care from the entire society

At Tuesday’s debate on “Access to health as a basic right: the role of parliaments in addressing key challenges to securing maternal and child health”, Vietnam briefed its achievements in implementing MDGs in healthcare for women and children.

Truong Thi Mai, Chairwoman of the NA Committee for Social Affairs, said: “Vietnam has completed the millennium development goal in maternal and child healthcare and is one of the regional countries leading the field. But to reach a sustainable target after 2015, Vietnam still needs to exert greater efforts especially in providing healthcare for mothers and children in rural, remote, and ethnic areas. Through this meeting, we can learn from the experiences of other countries and change either methods or ways of investment more effectively. The recommendations collected from the meeting can also become strong commitments by both Vietnam and other nations from which we should choose the most suitable solutions.”

Ms. Hon. Rosaline J.Smith, Sierra Leone’s parliamentarian, spoke highly of Vietnam’s achievements in maternal and child healthcare. She said: “I think Vietnam is doing well in terms of women empowerment because I can see the vice president is a woman and women are in prominent positions, the increased number of women Vietnam has in the legislative and executive body. I think Vietnam is on the right track and can soon achieve MDGs.”

Sharing the same opinion, Ellen Prins, a parliamentarian from South Africa, said the IPU-132 was organized in Vietnam, which was praised by the UN as one of the leading countries in the implementation of MDGs including maternal and child healthcare.

She noted that this was an opportunity for others to learn from Vietnam: “we are very progressive by implementing our laws, the extra dimension on women and children like the prevention to all mothers and children, transition programs put in place against discrimination on HIV/AIDS. South Africa has more experiences than Vietnam. But through this meeting and conferences, we think we can learn more experiences and Vietnam’s achievements.”

Also on Tuesday, the Standing Committees on Peace and International Security, Sustainable Development, Finance, and Trade planned to adopt resolutions on cyber warfare and water resource management prior to submitting to the IPU plenary session.