Vietnamese citizens were encouraged to lead healthy lifestyles at a meeting on April 8 in Hanoi in response to World Health Day (WHD) in 2023, according to Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan.

The event, with the theme "Health for all," intends to spread the word on health-improving behaviors for disease prevention and control, for changing lives, and for a healthier Vietnam, and according to Lan, reinforcing the government's objective of prioritizing public health care.

Doctors in Hanoi provided free health checkups and consultations for more than 3000 residents at the event. Photo: Kim Quyen/ The Hanoi Times

"Screening activities at the event would inform guests about their blood pressure, blood sugar level, and lung capacity. The health minister stated that those who take part in screening will be better able to detect disease early on and "will be able to control their illness at an early stage at primary health care facilities where they live, work, and study."

She talked about the challenges Vietnam has had in delivering healthcare to its people. According to Lan, the additional consequences of industrialization, urbanization, globalization, population aging, and climate change have resulted in a surge in diseases, injuries, and early mortality.

"The reasons for the high infection and mortality rates in Vietnam are due to the bad habits and lifestyles of the Vietnamese people, such as smoking, drinking beer and alcohol, eating meals low in vegetables and fruits, and not engaging in physical activity," Lan said.

"This program aimed to increase the community's knowledge about disease prevention. It also aimed to encourage all Vietnamese people to lead active lifestyles and eat nutritious foods," Lan added.

Agreeing with Lan, Angela Pratt, WHO Representative to Vietnam, said that Vietnam, like other countries worldwide, is now facing significant community health problems.

An aging population, infectious diseases, the impact of climate change on human health, and non-communicable diseases such as cancer and heart disease caused by smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet, and physical inactivity are just some of the problems facing the nation, according to Angela Pratt.

To address these issues and work toward improving everyone's health, she focused on the value of multilateral cooperation and young people's contribution to the public health movement.

Delegates participated in a flash mob and health walk, where more than 3,000 Hanoi residents received free health screenings and consultations from more than 150 doctors from the Cancer (K) Hospital, National Lung Hospital, National Heart Institute, and Endocrine Hospital for conditions such as hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and breast and cervical cancer screening.