China builds service network for child health

BEIJING — China has built a service network for child health, integrating primary-level medical service centers, maternal and childcare facilities, children's hospitals and pediatric departments in general hospitals, said a senior official with China's National Health Commission (NHC).

Medical service and healthcare play an indispensable role in promoting children's early development and well-being, Yu Yanhong, an official with the NHC, said at an international seminar on early child development held on Nov 26.

The network offers healthcare services starting from pregnancy to promote children's physical, psychological, cognitive, emotional and social development, according to the official.

In response to problems of inadequate services and imbalanced supplies of such services, Yu called for efforts in raising public awareness of early childhood development, grooming more professionals, enhancing the capacity building of service providers and investing in early childhood development in rural areas.