(VOVworld) - The Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation held a conference on Monday to discuss the relationship between non-communicable diseases (NCD) and Vietnam’s sustainable development. The conference drew 150 Vietnamese and foreign delegates.

The overview of the conference (Photo: suckhoedoisong.vn)

According to Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long, Vietnam is facing a growing number of fatalities from NCDs, primarily cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases.

UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pratiba Mehta said Vietnam has gained many achievements in fulfilling Millennium Development Goals, especially in lengthening people’s lives. But Vietnam is facing challenges in NCDs, which will require inter-sector efforts and measures to control and monitor NCDs.

Meeting participants discussed the global burden of NCDs and UN responses; the burden of NCDs and Vietnam’s response capacity; NCDs and Japan’s development; and NCDs and old age.