3% of Vietnam Children Suffers from Genetic Birth Defects

Between 1.5% and 3% of Vietnamese children suffers from hereditary birth defects, state media reported April 9, citing the Ministry of Health. The rate of birth defects will be much lower if pregnant women are diagnosed and pre-natal screened soon, local doctors said, advising the pregnant women to have vaccine shots and to go to hospitals for periodic health examinations. The MoH has been implementing the diagnostic and pre-natal screening program before giving births in 31 provinces and cities, which focuses on finding the lack of G6PD enzyme and Down syndrome.