Novo Nordisk focus on lifestyle diseases in Vietnam

 

The improving living standards are affecting the health and disease patterns in Vietnam. There is a rapid increase in non-infectious diseases and lifestyle diseases such as cancer and diabetes. An estimate from 2011 said that 1.6 million people have diabetes in Vietnam, and by 2030 this number is estimated to reach 3.4 million.

This was a topic as the Danish Minister of Development Cooperation, Ulla Tørnæs, visited Hanoi University of Public Health on Friday 12 May 2017.

“Diabetes perfectly illustrates the new challenges that come with rapid development and lifestyle changes. This is a new challenge for both Denmark and Vietnam,” said the Minister in her speech at the University.

As Ulla Tørnæs visited the Vietnamese University, UN’s Global Goals were also a focus point, especially goal three, good health and well-being. According to Omar Sherief Mohammad, General Manager of Novo Nordisk Vietnam, this is the goal that Novo Nordisk hopes to really make a difference in.

“There are 17 world goals, but we focus primarily on number 3 because it is there we are directly involved. We support the Ministry of Health with many activities that need attention, build capacity for professional health care and let them know that we have screening programs,” said Mohammad to Danish Media, Globalnyt.

With a focus on the rapid rise in chronic diseases in Vietnam, the Health Ministries of Denmark and Vietnam agreed on a cooperation, which also has a particular focus on diabetes.

“In this regard, I am pleased that the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, the world leader in diabetes and presently today, supports the health project in Vietnam,” said Tørnæs.

Source: Globalnyt.dk