Child Death in Thanh Hóa Prompts Health Ministry Probe of Unlicensed School

A boy identified as L. T. G. B., aged about three, died after being taken to a non‑licensed intervention centre in Thanh Hóa province. On 10 July the child was found with severe bruising, a large hematoma on the right rib cage, and signs of respiratory distress. He was rushed to a local children’s hospital, then transferred to the National Children’s Hospital where doctors diagnosed pancreatic and intestinal rupture, broken ribs, internal bleeding, and multiple organ failure. Despite intensive treatment, the child died after nearly a month of care.

Local police opened an investigation, treating the case as possible intentional injury. The Ministry of Health’s Mother‑and‑Child Department asked the Thanh Hóa health authority to cooperate with police, other agencies and local officials to verify the facts, and to review all similar private education facilities for compliance with child‑protection laws. The centre was run by Hàn Thị Hằng, who was the sole teacher on the day of the incident. The investigation remains ongoing.