A community campaign aiming for joint efforts in disease prevention was launched in Hanoi on October 17th by the Ministry of Health and Unilever Vietnam Foundation in response to the Global Hand-washing Day (October 15th), Nhan dan newspaper reported.

Hanoi students wash hands at the launch in response to the campaign. (Image credit: VNA)

The event drew the participation of over 3,600 delegates from relevant ministries, agencies, and socio-political organisations as well as students in Hanoi.

According to Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long, many kinds of diseases appear along with environmental pollution and climate change. In particular, emerging diseases such as SARS, influenza A, MERS-CoV, and Ebola, as well as the comeback of some in recent years such as dengue fever and hand-foot-mouth disease, will cause immediate damage to people’s health and national development. Nations around the world should be aware of the importance of medical prevention in protecting people's health.

He stressed that the campaign aims to mobilise participation of relevant authorities and call on positive proactive response by each inpidual and the whole community in the prevention of disease.

Nhan dan newspaper quoted statistics from the World Health Organisation showing that each year diarrhea kills 2.2 million children worldwide, mostly under 5 years old. However, the disease caused by viruses and bacteria can be completely prevented by simple, economical and efficient healthcare interventions, including washing hands with antibacterial soap./.

( Compiled by VNF )