The prenatal and neonatal screening program in Điện Biên province was launched in 2013, initially piloted in four districts and 20 communes before gradually expanding. By 2018, it had reached all 129 communes, wards, and towns. According to Nguyễn Châu Sơn, Head of the Population-Children Division of the provincial Department of Health, this was a critical step, as previously most people had little awareness of the importance of screening, resulting in very low rates of testing for pregnant women and newborns. In 2013, only 2.03 percent of pregnant women were screened, and just 3.98 percent of newborns. Thanks to persistent communication campaigns and improved capacity of local health services, these rates have risen significantly. The program is now being implemented province-wide, with the aim of gradually increasing the coverage of prenatal and neonatal screening.

Alongside these screenings, pre-marital health counseling has also been promoted. Communication and education activities have been widely held in schools, social centers, villages, and through local loudspeaker systems, providing tens of thousands of students, young people, and residents with essential knowledge on reproductive health, disease prevention, and safe preparation for marriage.

Hoàng Mai Linh, a student at Lương Thế Vinh High School, shared: “Before, I never thought pre-marital health checks were important. After being taught by teachers and population officers, I understood the risks if we don’t undergo health checks, especially the possibility of passing genetic diseases to our children. I realize this is a necessary step for young people like us to prepare better for the future.”

Statistics from the Population-Children Division show that since 2020, thousands of couples have received pre-marital counseling and health checks. In 2024 alone, 1,910 couples were counseled and 414 couples underwent pre-marital health checks, surpassing 102 percent of the annual target. In the same year, over 6,200 prenatal screenings and nearly 3,000 neonatal screenings were conducted across the province. These identified five suspected cases of congenital abnormalities during pregnancy and 55 suspected neonatal cases, mostly glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Families were promptly advised and guided to seek further testing and treatment.

Despite these results, challenges remain. Wide geographical areas, scattered populations, poor transport, and lingering outdated customs make communication and service delivery difficult. Local resources are limited, and neonatal screening services mostly depend on Central Government funding. Moreover, current prenatal screening is largely based on ultrasound, detecting only certain physical abnormalities and Down syndrome, whereas the Ministry of Health’s guidelines require screening for four prenatal conditions (Down, Edwards, Patau syndromes, and thalassemia) and five neonatal conditions (congenital hypothyroidism, G6PD deficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, congenital heart disease, and congenital hearing loss). Gaps in facilities, equipment, and trained personnel limit the program’s reach.

To meet the goal by 2030 of having 70 percent of pregnant women screened for at least four conditions and 90 percent of newborns screened for at least five conditions, the provincial population sector has identified several priorities. These include stronger leadership from Party committees and authorities, greater coordination with organizations and social groups to raise awareness, and mobilization of resources to expand services. Socializing screening services and allowing private medical facilities to participate will be crucial. At the same time, building capacity among health workers, especially at the grassroots level, will enable the implementation of advanced techniques and a wider range of screenings. Diversifying communication methods to suit the languages and cultural contexts of different ethnic groups is also essential.

As Nguyễn Châu Sơn emphasized: “Improving population quality is not only about reducing the incidence of congenital defects and inherited diseases but also about directly contributing to the development of a high-quality workforce. For Điện Biên and other ethnic and mountainous regions, effective prenatal and neonatal screening, combined with pre-marital counseling and health checks, represents a sustainable path toward healthier, happier communities and a stronger future for the nation.”