On April 25, at the International Scientific Conference on Air Quality Control and Improvement in Vietnam, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Lien Huong - Deputy Minister of Health emphasized the importance of controlling air pollution, especially in large cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
"Air pollution in Vietnam today, especially in large cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, has a direct impact on the health, socio-economic development and daily life of people, especially vulnerable people such as children, the elderly, pregnant women, people with chronic diseases, and outdoor workers" - Ms. Huong affirmed.
The Deputy Minister also pointed out the negative impacts of air pollution on public health, based on recent research in Vietnam.
Some recent studies in Vietnam have shown that air pollution is associated with an increase in respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, allergies; cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, chest pain, local anemia, heart failure, some skin and mucous membranes.
"Air pollution is also related to increased employment in terms of disease burden; increased hospitalizations, increased costs and treatment time, thereby contributing to increased pressure and overload at medical facilities and affecting treatment quality" - Ms. Huong said.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong emphasized that improving air quality requires inter-sectoral, inter-regional coordination and consensus of the entire political system, businesses and the community.
"With the motto 'Disease prevention is better than treatment', I think that we need to prioritize proactive environmental prevention and protection, including the air environment, instead of having to overcome and treat the environment when it is already polluted. This is not the exclusive responsibility of any ministry but a common task of ministries, localities; socio-political organizations; agencies, units; enterprises and each citizen. ", Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong emphasized.
The Deputy Minister of Health also requested international organizations, sponsors, and businesses to share their activities and initiatives so that relevant parties can coordinate and support air environment management as well as minimize the impact on the health of Vietnamese people.
Ms. Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Vietnam, said: Poor air quality is one of the biggest risks to public health. If we do not act promptly, we will have to pay the price with the erosion of the medical achievements that have been cultivated for decades.
WHO is committed to continuing to support the Vietnamese Government in implementing commitments to bring a green sky.
