Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Xuyen made the statement while attending a seminar in Hanoi on May 29 jointly organised by the Health Ministry and the Danish Embassy in Vietnam.
 

The event drew participation of leading medical experts and managers in Vietnam and abroad who shared their perspectives and experiences in preventing and treating the life-threatening disease.

Deputy Minister of Health Xuyen pointed out that diabetes is also on the rise in countries around the globe and poses a great challenge to the global healthcare and national development in the 21^st century.

Vietnam is among the low middle-income countries, likely to face negative impact of this dangerous disease, she said.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Diabetes Federation, Vietnam is one of the countries having the highest diabetes growth rate on the world.

Danish ambassador to Vietnam John Nielsen highly valued Vietnam’s active role in preventing and dealing with diabetes which affected nearly 5 million Vietnamese people.

Other delegates proposed measures to improve healthcare services for people living with diabetes and provided updated information on the chronic disease in Vietnam and the world.

The WHO reported that by November 2013, about 382 million people were infected by diabetes that is said to be among six leading reasons for fatality. The disease is also one of the two main causes of adult blindness.