Vietnamese military doctors, serving the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, have trained South Sudanese women on personal hygiene, in response to International Women's Day [March 8].

The activity is aimed at raising awareness of the importance of daily feminine hygiene practices among local women in South Sudan and equipping them with useful knowledge.

The Vietnamese doctors presented materials, gifts, and advice to South Sudanese women at the health training to encourage them to follow simple hygiene practices in the context of a clean water shortage.

They also gave presents to pregnant women at Obstetrics Department under the Bentiu General Hospital.

Doctor Tong Van Anh, head of the Women's Group at the Vietnamese level-2 field hospital No.3 said that most women in South Sudan neither consider keeping vaginal hygiene important nor understand that vaginal diseases can affect a female’s fertility and health.

“We want to send a message about the role of women in all countries, first of all, for women in South Sudan, so that they can appreciate and protect themselves well, in the situation of clean water scarcity. After this health education session, I hope that South Sudanese women will have a clearer view and are more concerned about their own health, especially vaginal health,” Van Anh stressed.

The gifts include 100 bottles of daily sanitizer, 100 bottles of hand soap and many cloth masks made by female soldiers of Vietnamese level-2 field hospital No.3 under the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. Photos: Vietnamese level-2 field hospital No.3

A Vietnamese doctor shows how to use a hygiene product.

Vietnamese doctors, who are serving Vietnamese level-2 field hospital No.3, present gifts to South Sudanese women.