Illustrative image (Source: VNA)Althoughthe Health Ministry has exerted efforts to control such non-communicable diseasesas cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and high blood pressure, the number of suffersare rising at an alarming level, Long stated.
Hecontinued by revealing that 70 percent of deaths each year are caused bynon-communicable diseases, of whom 40 percent are under 70 years old.
Heattributed the fact to the unhealthy lifestyle of many Vietnamese, adding that thereare currently 49 percent of males smoking cigarettes, and 77 percent of thepopulation consuming alcohol.
TheVietnamese people also use salt two times higher than the level recommended bythe World Health Organisation (WHO), he added.
WHOChief Representative in Vietnam Lokky Wai stated that non-infectious diseasesare putting a burden on the world’s economy, predicting a loss of 47 trillionUSD in the next 20 years.
InVietnam, tobacco-related diseases cause a loss of around 1 billion USD eachyear, he said.
Hesuggested the country well control these diseases in order to reduce treatmentcosts, hospital overloads, and economic burden, while stressing the need to makechanges in policies and management measures.
Theministry has set a target of decreasing the rate of deaths caused bynon-infectious diseases to 20 percent by 2025.
Italso aimed to reduce 30 percent of smokers, 10 percent of alcohol users, whilecutting down the amount of salt used by 30 percent, controlling the rate ofobesity under 15 percent and the rate of high blood pressure patients under 30percent.
Tothat end, the ministry carried out several measures, including the making ofthe law on alcohol-related harms, the law on tobacco-related harms, and thebuilding of a plan to implement the national strategy on nutrition.
Italso bettered the provision of preventive measures and treatment services athospital from the central to communal and village levels.-VNA
VNA
