Health

Experts slam Vietnam’s air pollution

Vietnam has an increasing incidence of respiratory diseases, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) repeatedly issuing warnings that it is among the most air-polluted countries in the Asia-Pacific region, according to health experts.
Experts slam Vietnam’s air pollution ảnh 1Assoc Prof Dr ​Dang Xuan Hung of the Ear Nose Throat Association of HCM City and Southern Provinces said at a conference in HCM City (Photo VNA)

HCM City (VNA) - Vietnam hasan increasing incidence of respiratory diseases, with the World HealthOrganisation (WHO) repeatedly issuing warnings that it is among the mostair-polluted countries in the Asia-Pacific region, according to health experts.

Dr Nguyen Thanh Vu, a lecturer at theSchool of Medicine at the Vietnam National University-HCM City, said childrenwere at high risk from air pollution, which has a long-term effect on theirhealth, causing pneumonia, diseases relating to their ears, nose and throat,and asthma.

He was speaking at a conference titled NewWarning About Respiratory Safety held last week by the Ear Nose ThroatAssociation of HCM City and Southern Provinces.

Vu cited a WHO report saying that twomillion children die globally due to acute respiratory infections, 60 percentof them caused by polluted air.

Some 3-5 percent of children’s congenitaldefects are caused by environmental pollution, the report added.

Vu said Vietnam had the highest prevalenceof asthma among children aged 12-13 in Asia, and warned this would continue toincrease.

HCM City’s paediatrics hospitals get manypatients with respiratory diseases.

The best way to prevent the diseases is toreduce exposure to polluted air, he said.

People should keep the air and environmentin their home clean, and everyone should wear masks when going out, hesaid.     

Assoc Prof Dr Dang Xuan Hung of the EarNose Throat Association of HCM City and Southern Provinces said people shouldproactively adopt preventive methods against diseases.

Proper nutrition, physical activity andadequate consumption of water helps improve resistance, but when resistance islow, bacteria and viruses which are always present in body easily causediseases, he added.-VNA
VNA
#respiratory diseases #World Health Organisation (WHO) #Asia-Pacific region #warnings #health experts Ho Chi Minh City
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