The Medical Services Administration (MSA) under the health ministry of Vietnam and the French pharmaceutical company Servier Vietnam signed an agreement on 18 June to initiate a 2 year project for improving blood pressure monitoring and diabetes control. Diabetes is a serious issue in Vietnam, where in 2017 around 3.5 million people were living with the disease, a figure which shows no sign of abating any time soon. Half of people diagnosed were not aware they were suffering from the disease.
According to the director of the MSA, the program, named “Ngay dau tien” or The First Day, marks an important step forward in the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country. It involves raising awareness among patients, doctors and families of the diseases, supporting early detection in patients and promoting the developing of healthy lifestyles for long term disease control. Additionally, the initiative will collect data from patient to inform health sector response.
To achieve its goals, the project will collaborate with a NCD prevention website to raise awareness and Medical facilities to enhance early detection and disease management. Moreover, it aims to develop 200 consultation centers at hospitals throughout Vietnam.
(Source: Vietnam News)
