COVID-19 guidance and materials in Hmong language launched

A message featuring 5K (in Vietnamese) Khau trang (facemask)- (Khu khuan) disinfection- (Khoang cach) distance- (Khong tu tap) no gathering – (Khai bao y te) health declaration in Hmong language.

Up to now, Vietnam has fundamentally controlled the COVID-19 clusters and successfully implemented the disease prevention strategy in general and testing strategy in particular.

However, there remain risks of COVID-19 pandemic resurgence if precautious measures are not put in place. 

Supported by the Government of Japan, Ministry of Health and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam strengthen communication to protect ethnic minority women from COVID-19 as they resume their household business.

Implementing Directive No. 24 / CT-BYT dated November 24, 2020 of the Ministry of Health on intensifying the strict implementation of measures to prevent and control COVID-19, the Ministry of Health has coordinated with UNDP in Vietnam and the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam have developed 9 infographics, video clips and audio spots communication products to help people build new habits that benefit health, advocate for the community, especially targeting ethnic minorities who speak Mong language through translation and dub.

Since the COVID-19 epidemic began, there has not been much information shared in the Mong language, many of them do not fully understand medical terms, especially old people who do not understand and read Vietnamese language well. So, they cannot fully understand these recommendations.

People are recommended to regularly wash hands with soap or hand sanitizers.

The clips and audios include recommendations from the Ministry of Health on disease prevention.

Under the message, the Health Ministry encourages people to regularly wear face masks at public places and crowded areas, wear medical masks at medical facilities and quarantine areas.

People are recommended to regularly wash hands with soap or hand sanitizers; clean surfaces and frequently contacting objects (door knobs, mobile phones, tablets, tables, and chairs). 

People are also asked to keep safe distance with each other and avoid mass gatherings. 

They are called on to conduct health declaration on NCOVI app, install BlueZone which will help detect the risk of COVID-19 infection. 

The ethnic minority groups live mainly in remote mountain and island areas.

The Hmong are the eighth largest minority group in Vietnam with a total population of about 600,000. They belong to the Sino-Tibetan language family and specifically the Hmong - Dao language group. They migrated from Southern China into North Vietnam over the last 250 to 300 years. They have mainly settled in the remote, mountainous areas of the North West, near the Lao and Chinese borders.

So far, Vietnam has confirmed 1,365 COVID-19 patients, including 1,220 recoveries and 35 deaths. Most of the fatalities were the elderly with serious underlying diseases.

Translated by Mai Pham