Experts seek greater efforts to tackle non-communicable diseases in Vietnam
14-May-15, Vietnam News
Health experts have called for more efforts to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cancer and diabetes, which have been increasing worldwide, including in Viet Nam during recent years.
%20laodong.jpg "Experts seek greater efforts to tackle non communicable diseases in Vietnam (c) laodong")
Image: laodong
"Of every ten deaths in Viet Nam, seven are caused by NCDs, mainly being cardiological, cancer, and diabetes diseases," said deputy minister Nguyen Thanh Long at a conference on the current situation and policies for NCD prevention and control in Viet Nam.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health showed that the country reported 520,000 fatalities in 2012, of which 73% were caused by NCDs, which compares unfavourably with the global average of 68%. World Health Organisation representative Socorro Escalante said NCDs would continue to worsen in Viet Nam due to high salt and alcohol consumption, and an especially alarming smoking rate among adult males. "NCDs are the future already occurring in Viet Nam," he said.