A child gets vaccinated at a centre in HCM City (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) - A combination of various public health and preventive medicine specialties should be paid attention to at the domestic and international levels to protect people’s health amid emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases globally, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son told a recent conference at the Pasteur Institute in HCM City. Problems in one country could affect other countries easier than in the past since pathogens and vectors now move further and faster than ever before through the global transportation network, he pointed out. The incidence of non-communicable diseases too has increased, including in Vietnam where they cause 70 percent of deaths, he said. “So the health sector in the country has expanded co-operation with other countries and adopted global scientific advances for the prevention and treatment of diseases.” The Government has invested in … [Read more...] about Domestic, global focus needed to address public health issues
Litzman health minister
Time to take bolder actions for clean air and people’s health
Dr. Kidong Park Polluted air is harmful to people’s health. Exposure to high concentration of particulate matters (PM), in particular micro particles with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less (PM2.5), increases the risk of air pollution-related diseases, including acute lower respiratory infections, stroke, heart attack, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. Excessive ozone in the air can have a marked effect on human health. It can cause breathing problems, trigger asthma, reduce lung function and lead to lung diseases. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) aggravates symptoms of bronchitis in asthmatic children. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) can affect the respiratory system and the functions of the lungs, and causes irritation of the eyes. The WHO air quality guidelines are based on expert evaluation of current scientific evidence and are applied worldwide. Unfortunately, 91 percent of the world population is living in places where the air quality based on WHO guidelines … [Read more...] about Time to take bolder actions for clean air and people’s health
Domestic, global focus needed to address public health issues: conference
A child gets vaccinated at a centre in HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo Phương Vy HCM CITY — A combination of various public health and preventive medicine specialties should be paid attention to at the domestic and international levels to protect people’s health amid emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases globally, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyễn Trường Sơn told a recent conference at the Pasteur Institute in HCM City. Problems in one country could affect other countries easier than in the past since pathogens and vectors now move further and faster than ever before through the global transportation network, he pointed out. The incidence of non-communicable diseases too has increased, including in Việt Nam where they cause 70 per cent of deaths, he said. “So the health sector in the country has expanded co-operation with other countries and adopted global scientific advances for the prevention and … [Read more...] about Domestic, global focus needed to address public health issues: conference
Canada vows to help Can Tho in agriculture, health care, environment
Canadian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Kyle Nunas (L) and Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Thi Hong Anh (Photo: VNA) Can Tho (VNA) – Canadian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Kyle Nunas and authorities of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on December 9 committed to bolstering bilateral cooperation in various areas, especially agriculture, health care and environment. During a working session in the city, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Thi Hong Anh said it is developing high-tech, eco-friendly and sustainable agriculture, as well as high-quality health care, which are also Canada’s strengths. She added that the city calls on foreign investors to provide modern equipment for a local cardiovascular hospital project. According to her, Can Tho also plans to establish a disease control centre to improve forecast and prevention of diseases for local residents. Nunas, for his part, said Canada is … [Read more...] about Canada vows to help Can Tho in agriculture, health care, environment
Vietnam’s healthcare sector acts to reduce plastic waste
Minister of Health and hospitals signed several commitments The event, which attracted the participation of ministries, leaders of cities and provinces, and businesses, as well as representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), shows strong determination to cut the volume of plastic waste in the healthcare sector in the months to come. “Plastic is a multifunctional material, and is light, durable, and has a reasonable price. It is popularly used in various fields and sectors, including healthcare. However, plastic waste has become a global environmental pollutant because of its duration and difficulties in decomposition, seriously affecting the environment and people’s health,” said Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien. “The country now has more than 13,000 health facilities with around 150 million inpatients and 450 million outpatients annually. Thus, the volume of plastic waste is huge,” she added. At the conference, a number of … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s healthcare sector acts to reduce plastic waste