Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Health Le Quang Cuong stressed the event was part of a cooperation strategy between the two countries in a bid to help Vietnam implement its action plan on non-infectious disease control for 2015 – 2025.
He noted that Vietnam has carried out a series of national target programmes to prevent and control non-communicable diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and lung diseases.
Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs said the precaution, detection and management of chronic illnesses are an important part in the bilateral cooperation, adding that diabetes is now a challenge for both nations.
The discussion revealed current preparations between Vietnam and Denmark for a new strategic sector cooperation, which aims at boosting early detection as well as the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases via approaches to public health care.
In Vietnam, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and chronic lung diseases account for two-third of the total diseases and cause 73 percent of the annual mortality.
It is estimated that there are 12 million people with high blood pressure, 3 million diabetes patients and 2 million others with chronic lung disease in Vietnam. Some 120,000 new cancer patients are detected each year.
VNA/VNP
