Danish Minister of Health Ellen Trane Norby speaks at the workshop (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – A workshop spotlighting Vietnam – Denmarkcooperation on non-communicable disease prevention took place at the HanoiMedical University on April 10.
Co-organised by the university and Denmark Embassy inVietnam, the workshop focused on the importance of grassroots health care andawareness-raising regarding non-communicable diseases. It was attended byvisiting Danish Minister of Health Ellen Trane Norby.
Reports at the discussion showed an upward trend of chronicdiseases and related deaths in Vietnam. According to latest data, for every 10deaths, seven were due to non-communicable diseases such as heart diseases,diabetes, cancer or lung issues. The country is estimated to have some 12million people suffering from high blood pressure, nearly 3 million diabetespatients and 2 million with chronic heart and lung diseases, in addition to120,000 new cancer cases every year. The leading causes were deemed to besmoking, drinking, heavy consumption of fat and little intake of vegetables orfruits and lack of physical exercise.
The Danish health minister said both Vietnam and Denmark areundertaking reform of their medical sector with an aim toward making initialhealthcare a major factor in reducing the rate of chronic diseases. The sectoris also a direct cooperative area between the two countries, she added.
The official said health care reforms and technologyapplication must be intensified to ensure everyone’s access to care.
The health ministries of Denmark and Vietnam are piloting anew approach to non-communicable diseases in 30 commune-level health stationsin four districts of the northern province of Thai Binh, aiming at buildingprimary care capacity at the grassroots level. Selected health workers in theseareas are set to start their training on April 11, with learning materialsco-developed by both Danish and Vietnamese experts.-VNA
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