VN responds to World Health Day

Speaking at the event, held in response to World Health Day on April 6, the Head of the Ministry of Health’s Legal Affairs Department Trần Đức Long, said that the rate of Việt Nam’s elderly population is rising rapidly, which is a challenge for the country’s socio-economic development as well as the medical sector.

According to the World Health Organization, around 142 million people, or eight percent of Southeast Asian’s population are aged over 60. This rate will increase to 12% by 2025 and to more than 20% by 2050.

Meanwhile, 9.4% of Việt Nam’s population, or around 8.15 million people are elderly. The General Statistics Office forecasts that the number of people over 60 will make up 10% of the country’s population by 2017. The medical sector says that 95% of the elderly also suffer from chronic diseases.

The WHO advises young people of working age to have a healthy diet, take regular exercise and live life with as little stress as possible to keep fit. Elderly people need a pro-active environment for them to be able to integrate into their local community’s activities.

At the meeting, 100 elderly people from Ba Đình district and Hà Nội were given free medical examinations and medicines. Later, a program entitled ‘Living a Pain Free Life’ will be held in nine of the country’s northern provinces to provide health checks for rural people.